Stalled by the domino effect of delayed or no-show grants from state and federal coffers, the organization behind affordable tiny homes for low-wage essential workers and young adults exiting homelessness hopes the community will come through with donations.

We Fortify, a nonprofit land developer and “social impact community builder” has launched a $6.2 million capital campaign called, “The Power of We.”

As part of the drive, a contribution of $1 million spread over five years from Ent Credit Union was solidified during a ceremonial grant signing on Friday.

After hearing a few years ago about the plans of Shelley Jensen, founder and CEO of We Fortify, Ent officials were “instantly impressed,” said Annie Snead, executive director of philanthropy for the community credit union that has locations in 21 Colorado counties, including El Paso County.

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The groups have similar missions: “We believe in meeting people with where they’re at and improving people’s financial quality of life — and that’s what We Fortify does,” Snead said.

The money will include financial coaching for residents at We Fortify’s first development, the 18-unit Working Fusion at Mill Street, at 120 W. Fountain Blvd., she said, as well as subsequent developments.

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Situated on just over half an acre and built out last year, Working Fusion houses 18-to-25-year-old men and women who are leaving homelessness or are aging out of foster care. The rent of $600 a month includes household furnishings and support services, such as foundational life skills, trauma therapy and social connectedness. 

The development, which Jensen began in 2017, has become so successful, Jensen said, that she’s been fielding calls from 19 other states that want to know all about it.

The footprint and density have kept project costs lower than national averages, she said.

“Our homes are small (280-square-feet) but dignified. We provide everything the resident needs but took out the walking space,” Jensen said.

“It’s giving kids a chance that never had a chance; they had so many things stacked against them,” said Dr. Terri Weber, a family physician who’s married to another local doctor. 

The couple is among the nearly dozen volunteers who help spruce up the Working Fusion property every Friday morning.

Last Friday, volunteers from We Fortify and Ent planted an autumn blaze maple tree during the grant signing event.

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“When you feel appreciated in your volunteer work, you want to do more, which is why my husband and I are here,” Weber said.

Two additional enclaves are “shovel ready,” Jensen said, meaning they’ve received necessary zoning and other city approvals to start digging dirt for utilities and other infrastructure.

Wendy’s Village, a 44-unit development of 22 small modular duplexes on 1 acre of Harrison School District 2 land near South Circle Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Bypass, needs $1.5 million to get jumpstarted, according to Jensen.

Each home costs about $150,000 to build, she said, and the first home was completed recently and serves as a model on-site.

The 352-square-foot residence has drawn widespread interest among educators, Jensen said, with a survey showing a majority of surveyed D-2 teachers being interested in living there once it’s open.

“We’re close,” she said.

The second project that’s ready to begin once more financing comes in is Prospect Village, at 3103 N. Prospect St., another community for 18-25 year-olds who are moving out of homelessness.

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Like Working Fusion, residents will work toward achieving permanent, stable housing and self-sufficiency within two years. The cost to live there: $825 a month. 

A third affordable housing project, the Village at Giberson, a 32-unit campus for employees of UCHealth in Woodland Park, is up next.

But ongoing work has been delayed due to funding, Jensen said.

As state and federal grants fade into budget-cut territory, there’s increasing competition for local funding, which makes every dollar count, she said.

Ent Credit Union has seen the need expand, Snead said.

For its recent cycle of awarding $300,000 in grants for youth-focused programs, Ent received more than $3 million in requests this year, she said. Food insecurity and housing projects also are its focus areas.

“This is a substantial gift for us,” Snead said of the $1 million multi-year award to We Fortify.

Ent intends to donate more than $3 million in charitable giving to Colorado nonprofits this year.

For more information on We Fortify, go to https://wefortify.org/.