Fort Collins, Colo., is by no means a metropolis, yet it struggles with issues many densely populated cities face: affordable housing and childcare.
Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (HRCC), blessed with large acreage, recognized the need and stepped up to help launch Heartside Hill housing development, a partnership with other social services groups.
“From the beginning, we saw something bigger for this land,” says Rev. Melissa St. Clair, Heart of the Rockies senior minister.
HRCC provides the property, while CARE Housing builds and manages apartments for low-income residents, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity sponsors the construction of single-family homes, and L’Arche Fort Collins lends support to disabled adults and their assistants.
“Heartside Hill is bigger than what we can do ourselves,” says Sue Anderson, a nearby resident, long-time HRCC member, and the co-project manager of Heartside Hill’s steering team.
Plans include a community building with space for an early childhood center, a pediatrician’s office, some of Heartside Hill’s mission partners, a potential partnership with Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and offices for HRCC.
Meanwhile, the church has outgrown its 20-year-old building. So DCEF Building and Capital Services Advisor Jim Michel is helping address architectural needs. Furthermore, the church has invested some of its building reserve funds in Investment Notes at DCEF to earn competitive interest rates on its reserves.
“DCEF has allowed us to come to the table with our partners and feel like we have someone who is putting our interests first,” said Rev. Melissa.
A venture Heart of the Rockies Christian Church couldn’t have accomplished alone has transformed an empty lot into a place to call home.
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