Marisol Homes wants to be the last shelter a family ever needs

In the past year, Marisa and her four children have bounced from a family member’s home to a shelter to a motel to another shelter and, finally, to Marisol Homes.

The family soon will move into a furnished apartment and have money in the bank after living since February at a Marisol Home in Lakewood.

“At first, I was nervous because nobody wants to be in this situation,” said Marisa, whose name is being withheld by The Denver Post because of safety concerns for her family. “They’re really supportive, and if I had any issues, somebody was there to talk to.”

The Marisol Homes program is part of Catholic Charities of Denver, and the four homes it manages provide temporary housing to homeless mothers, many of whom are survivors of domestic violence, and their young children. The program operates on a $1 million annual budget.

The homes are much more than temporary shelters, program director Amy Eurek said. Marisol’s staff guides the women toward financial and housing stability and then supports them with an alumni group once they are living on their own.

“We meet our families where they are,” Eurek said. “Our caseloads are really small, so we can go deep, go big.”

The counselors discuss everything from spending habits to social influences to credit scores with the women. The residents must follow house rules, including curfews, sharing chores and abstaining from drugs and alcohol. And the women are required to save 90 percent of their income after paying for some basic personal expenses.

There is no time limit for a fami- ly’s stay at a Marisol home as long as the mother is proving a willingness to work and save and follow the rules. The average stay is about six months, Eurek said.

The program started in 2005 when founders realized most shelters provided short-term relief during a crisis and helped women obtain legal documents and enroll in public assistance, but weren’t equipped to help women focus on long-term stability, Eurek said.

While there is intense support at Marisol, the women must take responsibility for themselves and their children. For example, if they want to run an errand or keep a doctor’s appointment, they can’t just ask a staff member or a fellow Photos by Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post