What does the OUR Center do?
The OUR Center helps people move toward self-sufficiency by unifying community resources.
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Whom does the OUR Center serve?
Anyone in need in the St. Vrain Valley School District, which includes Longmont, Hygiene, Lyons, Niwot, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, and Dacono, and we have recently expanded into serving Allenspark, Raymond, and Riverside. It is the intent of the OUR Center to serve without regard to race, color, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, political belief, mental or physical disability, or any other preference or personal characteristic, condition or status, always keeping in mind that each person must be respected for who she/he is, and that no person is unworthy of our help.
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What services does the OUR Center provide?
Hospitality Care
- Community Cafe
- Community Market
- Community Closet
Support Network
- Rent & Utility Assistance
- Housing Referrals
- Employment Referrals
- Family Law Resources
- Mobility Access
- Health Care Access
Personal Development
- Life Skills Classes
- Financial Skills Classes
- Nutrition Classes
- Budget Counseling
Family Forward
- Childcare
- Child Education
- Parenting Support & Skills
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How does the OUR Center screen people before providing services to ensure that donations are utilized for clients who are truly in need?
The OUR Center has a stringent intake process, and anyone seeking services is assigned to a Resource Navigator who reviews and manages each case. The Resource Navigator verifies income, expenses, household size, and other factors to determine what services are needed. Participants then partner with OUR Center on his or her case plan created to move them toward self-sufficiency. Clients are held accountable and are required to do their part in working toward self-sufficiency in order to receive OUR Center services.
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How does the OUR Center track its success with client services?
The OUR Center uses a software application collaboration (Boulder County Connect) with other Boulder County agencies – to track and manage client cases and to monitor progress along the self-sufficiency matrix. This matrix documents progress towards self-sufficiency over time at specific intervention points or when appropriate to document a client’s progress towards goals.
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Are there other basic needs service providers in the Greater Longmont Area? If so, is there duplication of services?
There are other non-comprehensive service providers in the area, most of which are smaller than the OUR Center. However, the OUR Center has become the most comprehensive community-based agency because it has established extensive and creative partnerships with a wide range of more than 35 community resources, such as local, county, regional, state, and federal government agencies, businesses, other non-profit organizations, the faith community, schools, service clubs, and individuals in the area. As a result of these partnerships and collaborations and the OUR Center’s position at the nexus of the relationships, there is far less duplication of services than there otherwise would be, enabling us to be excellent stewards of our donor dollars.
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What is the OUR Center’s relationship with the faith communities?
Many churches rely on the OUR Center as a resource for people in their congregations with basic needs. While many churches in the region support the OUR Center, the organization is not exclusively linked with any one church, or any other agency.
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What percentage of the OUR Center’s revenue comes from public funding?
The OUR Center does not rely heavily on any one source of funding; rather, we receive funding from a diversity of sources*: individuals (40%), foundations (17%), businesses/corporations (4%), churches (2%), local government (29%), special events (1%), and other sources (7%).
*Fiscal Year Ending 6/30/22 data.
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What percentage of funds raised goes to client services?
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of all funding goes directly to client programs and services – which is well above the national standard of a minimum of 75%.
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Do I need an appointment to come in for services?
Yes, you will need to make an appointment for your first visit so that a Resource Specialist can help set up a personalized case plan for your specific needs.
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Where can I donate clothes or food items?
Food and personal care items can be donated at 220 Collyer Street in Longmont 8-5 weekdays at the Donation Zone door at our south entrance. Clothing and housewares are accepted 9am-noon Mondays & Wednesdays.
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How old do you have to be to volunteer?
Volunteers must be 16 years of age. For information on available "special projects" for young volunteers please contact Julie at 303-772-5529 x 235 or julie@ourcenter.org.
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I know someone that can benefit from your services. How can I help them?
Please have them call us at 303-772-5529 or send an inquiry through this site (info@ourcenter.org).
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Do you have a shelter?
No, the OUR Center’s mission is to assist towards self-sufficiency therefore we provide services that prevent homelessness. However, we partner with many non-profits and local groups to provide insights and solutions to our homeless population.
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What services are available for weekends and holidays?
During weekends and holidays we serve lunch from 11:30a to 1pm on site.
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