Movement 5280’s unique focus is to be a “family of support” for at-risk and unhoused youth and young adults. Additionally, as a recovery community organization, we embrace a holistic approach, offering individualized, long-term support irrespective of age. Our commitment is to create a nurturing and inclusive community that recognizes the inherent worth and potential of every individual.

The statistics and information about youth homelessness in Colorado are eye opening and show why Movement 5280 seeks to help these youth with a holistic approach through our programs Survive, Thrive, and Revive.

According to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, homelessness among unaccompanied youth rose by 15.3% since 2022 (January 2023 Point-in-Time, 2023). Metro Denver’s 2023 annual homelessness count found that 1787 unaccompanied youth were homeless, and another 8,240 students identified as homeless (MDHI, 2023). Over 45% of these youth have a disabling condition and 21% are chronically homeless, which means they have experienced homelessness for at least 12 months over a period of three years and have a disabling condition. The U.S also found that about 50% of young adults that are homeless were once in the foster care system (Orsi, Clemens, & Thibodeau, 2021). Youth and young adults that are unhoused have a much higher rate of drug use, overdoses, mental health issues, suicide, and committing crime than housed youth and young adults.

These unhoused young individuals are in an extremely important developmental stage in their life and are doing it with little to no support and the ability to meet even the most basic needs. They are in a constant state of survival. This is where Movement 5280 meets them. It is a pivotal point where things must change for these individuals to survive. We come alongside them providing case management, housing support, addiction recovery, mental health support, and most importantly family. Their walls come down, they can come out of survival mode, and they can begin to thrive.