On November 6, 2025, Redtail Ponds marked its 10-year anniversary with a celebration as vibrant as the community itself. Residents gathered for a chili cookoff, serving their own recipes alongside desserts and lemonade provided by staff. The community space was transformed with balloons, tablecloths, and festive decorations. Around the room, glitter-covered cards displayed heartfelt reflections on the question, “What does Redtail Ponds mean to me?”
This anniversary was not just about looking back; it was also about celebrating the present and looking towards the future. The conversations, shared meal, and colorful decorations reflected the spirit of Redtail Ponds: a place where people who have faced immense challenges can find safety, stability, and community.
A Decade of Impact
When it opened its doors in 2015, Redtail Ponds was Northern Colorado’s first Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) community. It was designed using best practices from across the country and meets the needs of veterans and people with disabilities who have experienced homelessness.
Over the past ten years, Redtail Ponds has served 175 individuals, including 69 veterans, and more than 100 people have successfully exited chronic homelessness. Many residents live with significant health challenges or disabilities, yet here they have found not only housing but also the support needed to rebuild their lives.
Susan W. reflected at the anniversary celebration: “Some of the neighbors I get along with and others I don’t. But after being homeless for so long, having a home for 10 years is a pretty good accomplishment.”
Eric M. shared: “This place saved my life. It was hard to get used to having a home, but it saved my life.”
And Robert H. offered words that capture the spirit of the program: “From the start any harbor is safety from the storms, but Redtail is shelter from the dark.”
More Than Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is recognized nationally as one of the most effective solutions to chronic homelessness. It pairs affordable housing with voluntary support services such as case management, health care, and employment resources.
At Redtail Ponds, this model has translated into long-term success. Residents stay an average of more than three years, with dozens calling it home for over five. Many have transitioned into permanent housing or maintained stability outside of homelessness.
This longevity reflects the sense of community, safety, and belonging created within the supportive housing environment. It is a place where people can settle in, form friendships, and begin to imagine a future beyond survival.
For many, that future includes moving on to other stable homes. Fifty-five residents have already taken that step toward self-sufficiency, while thirty more have maintained neutral housing outcomes that keep them from returning to homelessness.
Addressing Complex Needs with Compassion
At Redtail Ponds, many residents arrive carrying the weight of significant health and mobility challenges. More than 100 participants live with a chronic health condition, and over 120 manage physical disabilities that make daily life more challenging. For the majority of these residents, the challenges are compounded with three or more disabling conditions that require a depth of care and understanding few programs are equipped to provide.
Behind each number is a person who has faced extraordinary obstacles. For them, Redtail Ponds is not only a safe place to live but also a place to rebuild trust and a sense of belonging. Compassion and trauma-informed care is at the heart of this work, ensuring that every resident receives the support they need to heal and thrive.
Looking Ahead
As Redtail Ponds enters its second decade, the vision remains clear: to continue building community, restoring health, and changing lives. The future will bring new challenges, but also new opportunities to expand the circle of belonging.
Redtail Ponds stands as proof that housing plus support changes lives. Our hope is that in 2035, we will gather again to not only celebrate the 20th anniversary Redtail Ponds, but also a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.
