Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity is embarking on a new partnership with another area nonprofit: Special Kids Special Families, which “provide[s] wraparound services across the lifespan for people with disabilities,” according to Derek Wilson, senior director of development and communications for SKSF.
“Special Kids Special Families reached out to Pikes Peak Habitat because they knew of our home modification program from our partnership with Silver Key Senior Services,” explains Laura Williams-Parrish, Pikes Peak Habitat assistant director of strategic partnerships. “With Silver Key, we were able to help seniors safely age in place, affordably and with dignity. Likewise, the need for safe and accessible home modifications for SKSF clients who have disabilities seems like a natural fit for our home repair program.”
Wilson notes that while the organizations have different missions, “there’s some synergies. Having that open dialogue, those channels of communication, the ability to make recommendations” can benefit the people we serve. For example, he says, “We do frequently get people who say things like, ‘I need a home that’s accessible,’ or ’I have a home and I need it to become accessible.’”
He says some of the services SKSF offers—such as affordable daycare, veteran programs, and senior services—might also appeal to Pikes Peak Habitat homeowners.
“For 25 years we’ve been committed to making the Pikes Peak region the best community in the nation for those individuals with a disability,” Wilson explains. “We do that by promoting, strengthening, and
supporting through three essential pillars of service.”
SKSF offers childcare through Zach’s Place, which provides respite services for foster families as well as specialized, one-to-one care for children with special needs.
“We don’t turn anybody away for inability to pay,” says Wilson. With the average cost of childcare around $20 per hour, workforce parents may struggle to cover this expense, so Zach’s Place arranges sliding-scale payments, accepts waivers, and works with The Resource Exchange (TRE) to ensure that families who need childcare have access.
SKSF also offers fostering and adoption services to “families that are looking to open up their hearts and their homes,” Wilson says.
In addition, they provide a range of adult and senior services. Joey’s Place is an adult daycare center, and SKSF also works with residential host homes, which contribute “foster care for adults with special needs,” explains Wilson. And the Building Connections community group helps “high-functioning individuals with special needs learn life skills and confidence building,” he says.
Finally, SKSF offers additional support and empowerment services, which include behavioral and mental health counseling, assessments, cultural resources, and veteran services. The organization holds a Class B license for home healthcare and also fields a fleet of 16 vehicles that supply transportation to people with disabilities.
“We do provide services in the center, in the home, and in the community,” Wilson says. “We meet people where they’re at.”
The hope is that a partnership between SKSF and Pikes Peak Habitat will expand both organizations’ capacity to serve El Paso County residents.
“What dreams might come, what endless possibilities are out there?” says Wilson. “We’re all about making this a great community. That only happens through collaboration and partnerships.”
