FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Advocates of Lake County Retains Former Safehouse Property, Launches New Community Housing Initiative
Former shelter property to become Bridge House, supporting long-term housing stabilization while survivor services remain strong and accessible
LEADVILLE, Colo. — The Advocates of Lake County announced that it will no longer move forward with the sale of its former domestic violence survivor safehouse property, marking an important milestone in the organization’s efforts to strengthen sustainability and reinvest in local support systems.
Rather than being sold, the former safehouse will be repurposed as Bridge House, a new component of ALC’s Bridge Program. Bridge House will provide low-barrier transitional housing for individuals navigating housing instability, crisis recovery, and other barriers to long-term stability.
Residents will contribute modest income-based rent, helping build housing readiness while supporting a sustainable model that reinvests directly into services. Rental contributions will help offset operational and program costs and support future resident needs, including security deposits, relocation expenses, move-in costs and other housing stabilization supports. The Bridge offices will relocate to the Alder Street property and vacate its current rental location by August 1.
Although decision to sell the house was made to protect long-term organizational viability in the face of significant inherited organizational and financial challenges, ALC recognizes it generated concern and uncertainty among community members, partners and supporters. According to ALC leadership, the organization is now operating from a significantly stronger position— with stronger systems, vastly improved financial stewardship, and a sustainability-focused development strategy—than when the original sale decision was made.
“Our ability to reverse our decision to sell the house reflects the incredible work that staff, Board leadership, community partners, donors, and supporters have invested over the past year to strengthen ALC and position it for the future,” said Kristen King, ALC’s Co-Executive Director and Operations Director. “We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to accomplish such a massive turnaround in such a short time. Now we can not only protect our lifesaving victim and survivor services, but we can also repurpose this property in direct response to immediate community needs.”
ALC emphasized that using the building for housing stabilization does not represent a reduction in services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, or other crimes. Emergency sheltering for survivors will continue through hotel placements, short-term rental partnerships. and regional shelter collaborations. This distributed sheltering model allows
ALC to be more flexible and responsive to individual survivor circumstances and to provide higher levels of confidentiality and privacy than possible in a single-site location.
For more than a decade, the former safehouse played an important role in supporting survivors seeking refuge and safety. While its purpose is evolving, ALC remains committed to ensuring it continues serving the community and adapting to changing local needs. Advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, resource navigation, prevention education, financial assistance and survivor support services also remain fully operational through ALC’s Stream Program and community partnerships.
“This transition reflects what we’ve learned from both data and experience,” said Tim Best, ALC’s Co-Executive Director and Client Services Director. “Safety and stability are deeply connected. During the past year, approximately 62 percent of Bridge Program participants identified as survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or another crime. While Stream and Bridge serve different purposes, both create pathways toward empowerment, resilience, and long-term wellbeing.” Community partner Kelsy Maxie, Director of Public Health, added, “The Advocates of Lake County are a critical part of our community’s safety net. Through programs like Bridge and Stream, they help increase housing stability, improve health outcomes, and strengthen community resilience. It is a tremendous win for Lake County that ALC has found a way to sustain and expand these services while building a stronger future for the organization. Public Health relies on strong nonprofit partners like the Advocates to help meet the health and safety needs of our rural community.”
For more than 40 years, ALC has provided services, advocacy, and support to vulnerable individuals and families across Lake County, evolving to meet changing needs while remaining focused on safety, stability, empowerment and community wellbeing.
“We’re proud this building will remain a community asset,” King said. “It will serve differently than it has in the past, but it will continue to serve survivors and vulnerable community members in Leadville and Lake County, hopefully for another 40-plus years of trauma-informed advocacy, education and coordinated community response.”
Media Contacts:
- Tim Best, Co-Executive Director & Client Services Director
- Kristen King, Co-Executive Director & Operations Director
- exec@advocatesoflakecounty.org