CEDP July Newsletter
The CARE Center Turned Three, A CEDP Staff Picnic, Upcoming Community Events, and New Office Artwork.
While summer is often a time to slow down and reconnect, this year has brought a wave of challenges for our communities, from record-high evictions in Denver to a federal tax bill with devastating cuts to critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP. The bill has already created an almost $1 billion hole in Colorado’s state budget, setting the stage for a likely special session of the legislature.
In the weeks ahead, state leaders will be forced to make tough choices. We urge them to act with urgency and to lead with a clear commitment to those most vulnerable in our communities. Because at the end of the day, budgets aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet, they are reflections of our values.
At CEDP, we’re doubling down on our efforts to protect and support those most impacted. This past month, we’ve put that commitment into action, serving more than 1,000 Colorado households with eviction prevention, housing support, and other critical social services. And we are not slowing down, below is a quick snapshot of what we’ve been up to in July and what’s ahead in August. (Keep reading for more on each of these highlights.)
The CARE Center, which provides call center services to Coloradans across the state, turned three in July!
CEDP staff gathered in person for a family picnic to celebrate our team and the work of the CARE Center. Both serve as a reminder of what’s possible when we show up together, in community, and for one another.
CED Law is hosting a virtual know your rights series with Aurora Public Library throughout the summer (find more and register to attend here).
We’re partnering with other community organizations in Colorado Springs for the Stronger Together Housing Legal Day event on August 29th.
We added two beautiful new works of art to our Denver and Colorado Springs offices.
We’re planning for several additional upcoming events — check out the calendar on our website or see the list below to see where we’ll be throughout August!
As we move into the rest of summer, we remain committed to working alongside our partners and communities to demand policies that reflect our shared values and meet this moment with the urgency it requires. We’re grateful to be in this fight alongside you.
In solidarity,
The CEDP Team
The CARE Center Celebrated Its Third Anniversary
In July, the CARE Center celebrated its third anniversary! The CARE Center provides trusted call center services for government, community, and nonprofit programs. It specializes in complex customer service challenges, including disaster response, emergency social services, and government-wide call center services.
Since its initial launch, the CARE Center has expanded in both the number of staff members and the number of clients served. The CARE team serves over 120,000 people annually and has a customer satisfaction rate of over 88%. The CARE Center has become a core part of our work here at CEDP, and we’re proud of the work everyone at the CARE Center does day in and day out to serve Coloradans.
If you’d like to learn more about the CARE Center, or if you’re in need of assistance, check out the CARE Center website for more information.
The CEDP Team Gathered for a Summer Picnic
We hosted a picnic for CEDP staff members and their families in July. It was great to connect, share in some fun activities, and enjoy good food together. This was CEDP’s first family picnic, and we’re excited to have similar family-friendly staff events in the future!
Virtual Know Your Rights Sessions With Aurora Public Library
This summer, our CED Law team has been hosting virtual know your rights events with Aurora Public Library! These events are a great way to learn more about rental basics, fair housing, and discrimination. Visit the Aurora Public Library website to register, and see below for the full list of events:
Stronger Together Housing Legal Day in Colorado Springs
On August 29th, CEDP is partnering with other community organizations to host a housing legal day at the Family Success Center in Colorado Springs (where our Colorado Springs office is housed). The event will include a legal know your rights workshop, a resource fair, and the opportunity to sign up for one-on-one time with a lawyer to get personalized legal advice. Check out the flyer below for more information, or visit the website for the event here.
New Artwork in Denver and Colorado Springs Offices
We’re excited to have new artwork in both our Denver and Colorado Springs offices! These new art installations are ways to make our offices warm and welcoming for anyone who visits us in person.
The art at our Denver office was created by talented artist and CEDP staff member Alba Valerdi! The movable murals are eye-catching and bring color and life to the Denver office. Huge shoutout and thank you to Alba for her beautiful work!
There’s also now a colorful mural by artist Rachel Dinda in our Colorado Springs office! The mural has solidified our office as a warm, welcoming, community-centered space. We’re excited to show off the mural to visitors and staff alike who visit us at the Family Success Center.
Upcoming Community Events
Check out the “Calendar” page on our website for the most up-to-date list of CEDP events and office closures. Here are upcoming events in August:
Know Your Rights: Move-Out Best Practices
When: August 6th at 4:30 p.m. MDT
Where: Centro San Juan Diego (2830 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80205)
Fair Housing and Discrimination: Protections for Immigrant Tenants
When: August 7th at 5 p.m.
Where: Virtual (sign up here)
Golden Terrace Mobile Home Park Resource Fair
When: August 9th at 11 a.m. MDT
Where: Golden Terrace (17801 W Colfax Ave, Golden, CO 80401)
Tax Relief Clinic at Halcyon House
When: August 12th at 9 a.m. MDT
Where: Halcyon House Apartments (1955 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80202)
Know Your Rights With United For a New Economy
When: August 12th at 6 p.m. MDT
Where: Village Crest Apartments (6201 E 62nd Ave, Commerce City, CO 80022)
EC3 Monthly Legal Clinic
When: August 20th at 6 p.m. MDT
Where: East Colfax Community Collective (1195 Newport St, Denver, CO 80220)
Fair Housing and Discrimination: Protections for Tenants with Disabilities
When: August 21st at 5 p.m. MDT
Where: Virtual (sign up here)
Stronger Together Housing Legal Day
When: August 29th at 10 a.m.
Where: Family Success Center (1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910)
Get Help
The Community Economic Defense Project provides rental assistance, legal assistance/representation, and resource navigation for clients facing eviction, housing insecurity, and other types of economic hardship. If you need assistance, please visit our website to get help.