Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community

Las Animas, CO
Congressional District CO-4

Contact
Cassy Westmoreland
[email protected]
(303) 864-8422

Colorado Dep of Local Affairs: Fort Lyon

In 2013, the state of Colorado created the Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community (SRC) through a statute that repurposed a 160-year-old decommissioned military fort in Bent County, Colorado. There were two main goals driving the state’s program design at Fort Lyon: jumpstart the region’s economic engine and pilot an innovative solution to the statewide homeless ness and addiction crisis, with a focus on homeless Veterans. The SRC has the flexibility to adjust as needed to meet each individual resident’s recovery needs. In addition, any Colorado resident with a substance use diagnosis and experiencing or at risk of homeless may access the SRC regardless of income or background and allows it to define success as program exits in which the individual is sober and connected to permanent housing.

Since its inception in 2013, the SRC has served approximately 1,700 Coloradoans struggling with homelessness and addiction. The 5 year evaluation of the SRC identified significant cost savings as a result of the program, including an average of a 33% decrease in public costs for residents prior to enrollment versus one year post enrollment; this included an 80% reduction in judicial system costs.

Partner Engagement
Community mental health centers 
federally qualified healthcare centers
substance use treatment agencies
housing coordinators and voucher administrators
workforce development centers and vocational rehabilitation centers
community colleges or GED programs
life skills trainers
other providers with experience working with homeless populations

The project was funded through state resources.