More than a Lot: CSPI’s New Partnership with the Salvation Army

Sep 3

Integral to Colorado Safe Parking Initiative’s mission is matching available resources to the folks who need them most—which they primarily do by operating overnight safe lots for people experiencing homelessness. This year, CSPI began a new partnership with the Salvation Army that allows them to extend their services even further, utilizing federally allocated rapid rehousing dollars to open a new lot at the Salvation Army housing navigation center in unincorporated Adams County.

The two organizations have established a symbiotic relationship, with CSPI consulting on what’s needed for the safe lot to run smoothly, and the Salvation Army providing amenities and specialized case management services to parkers.

“CSPI has expertise in the logistics and best practices of safe parking, which we bring to this partnership,” says CSPI executive director Terrell Curtis. “In addition to a safe place to spend the night, we know how important supportive services are for people newly experiencing homelessness. Through this partnership, the Salvation Army provides expert case management. We can do what we do best, they can do what they do best, and we meet right there in the middle to better serve unhoused people.”

Inspired by the spirit of reciprocity, CSPI is eager to establish similar partnerships.

“This is a really cool model that allows us to take advantage of resources that are already in place in a specific community,” Curtis explains. “We don't all have to be experts about every metro county and what resources are available in each, and can instead partner with people who are already in place. It’s a really collaborative model that we’d like to replicate.”