Bridge House
Bridge House
Success Stories
Justin and Taryn W’s Story
Justin knows the impact that Ready to Work had on his life is a generational one. When his children were young, he was a successful sales manager at a Denver car dealership and later for a Boulder tire company. However, the dysfunction of an alcohol-fueled home and constant arguments with his then-wife took a toll…
Sabrena C’s Story
There was a time when Sabrena would make empty promises to her young son. She grew up in Denver, played in the orchestra in both middle and high school, competed in gymnastics and was a flier on Northglenn High School’s cheerleading squad. She earned her childhood development associate credential and Bachelor’s degree in early childhood…
Neelish P’s Story
Neelish walks into the common space of the Ready to Work house in Boulder with a container of his magic cookie bars (brownies), baking now a hobby after spending time in the kitchen with the grandfather who raised him and various culinary jobs since the time he was 14 years old, including Community Table Kitchen…
Zach M’s Story
When you talk to Zach about his path to Bridge House, what he accomplished as a Ready to Work trainee, and what he’s done since graduation in 2023, there’s an insane amount of clarity and determination communicated through his southern drawl. After spending nine-and-a-half years in the Florida correctional system, Zach moved to Colorado for…
Scott C’s Story
Scott’s story highlights just how easy it is for someone to go from housed to homeless, seemingly overnight. He shares, “One incident can change the entire trajectory of a person’s life.” Scott grew up in a loving family home in Michigan, with his brother, sister and their parents. He graduated from high school and felt…
Palmer’s Story
Confronting your story is one thing. Being strong enough to share it with a few hundred people is another. That is exactly what Palmer Layton did as a 2023 Ready to Work Graduate speaker. Layton had a great childhood in New York that fostered his love for skateboarding and racing motocross. At 19 years old,…
Kyle’s Story
Kyle is a graduate of Ready to Work, successfully completing the program in November of 2017. Raised in a loving, middle class family, Kyle moved from California to New Jersey and eventually to Colorado. While a teenager, he experimented with drugs and alcohol, but never got into any real trouble. Kyle was a bright student…
Shane’s Story
Shane offers a big smile as he sits down on a break from working as Supervisor at Ready to Work Boulder. He shares his story in hopes of showing others that self-sufficiency is possible, despite the past. A native of Wisconsin, Shane grew up in a home with his mother and sister. He suffered a…
Dustin’s Story
Since finding Bridge House, Dustin has been a freight train where nothing is going to stop him. He recently received his certification as a Colorado Peer and Family Specialist and has been hired as a behavioral case manager at Ready to Work Aurora. Dustin wants to give back to others in the same way he…
Denny’s Story
Last September 26th, I thought the bottom had dropped out of my life. I was in a car accident, spent 9 days in the hospital, had all my personal possessions impounded and had $5800 stolen from my hotel room. I had $8, and the clothes on my back and ended up at the Boulder Shelter.…
Stella’s Story
It is so rare for a young mother to gain full custody of her minor child after incarceration, especially after spending almost a decade in prison. But that’s just what Stella did. Her tenacity and dedication to turning her life around with the help of Bridge House has transformed her into the amazing woman she…
David’s Story
The goal of our programs is to meet individuals where they are, and offer opportunities to transform their lives. But behind each individual person are stories. Stories of loss, trauma, and pain, but also stories of strength, resilience and pride. David is just one of these stories. David offers a friendly smile as we sit…
Dee Dee’s Story
Dee Dee and Eric spent years on streets struggling with addiction and their path to sobriety was rocky. At Bridge House Dee Dee was able to utilize services such as the client internship program, case management, and legal benefits assistance to begin filing tedious disability paperwork. In addition the access to two meals a day…
Tony C’s Story
Hi, my name is Tony C. I am a Colorado native. I recently came to Boulder, CO and have been homeless for some time now. I heard of a place “where the heart is” called the Carriage House. I have been coming here since I came to Boulder. They have helped me with a lot…
Ray J’s Story
I came to Colorado from Oklahoma. I was on the streets looking for a job and somewhere to sleep. While I was looking for work, I met some people from the Carriage House that gave me information about places to eat and sleep. They showed me how to work on the computer and that led…
Mark S’s Story
Carriage House helped me stay on a path of success when I had no other resources to turn to. I have been able to keep working since in Colorado because of their staff’s encouragement and help with bus fare, which I could barely afford after paying my bills. Consequently I was able to keep my…
Cory’s Story
I’m a 25 year old female, who has been addicted to pain pills and heroin for almost 11 years. I tried to make a change in my life by leaving my home and all my belongings. I dropped everything and moved to Colorado in September 2005 with only the things I could carry on my…
Dennis’s Story
In 2009 Dennis lost his full time job. Unable to find steady employment Dennis ended up living on the streets. He spent his days selling the Denver Voice and his nights camping or at the warming center. “On the street I found that my faith in God is what got me through the really rough…
James’ Story
Homeless, James and his family – his wife and two children (6 and 11 years old) – lost everything they owned in the flood while they were camping up in Nederland. “After the flood we needed a hand up to survive” James said, “and Bridge House was there for us.” Bridge House’s open door policy…
I made it out with the help of Bridge House
“I almost died on the street and there are only two reasons I made it off the street, my determination to change my life and the opportunity the Ready to Work program gave me.” “Before I joined the Ready to Work program I was a drunk. I was homeless sleeping outside even in the dead…
Jose’s Story
“I made it out with the help of Bridge House” “I almost died on the street and there are only two reasons I made it off the street, my determination to change my life and the opportunity the Ready to Work program gave me.” “Before I joined the Ready to Work program I was a…
John’s Story
John found himself without a home, without a job and on the verge of suicide. Each day he walked the streets of Boulder looking for a safe place to sleep for the night. With winter was just around the corner, sleeping outside was soon going to be very dangerous. John needed shelter. Through talking with…
Steve’s Story
The horn-rimmed glasses and close-cropped hair give him an almost studious appearance. I’ll call him Steve. He’s powerfully built and broad through the chest but right now tears are streaming down the cheeks of this big man. We’re at a staff meeting at Bridge House and Steve is telling us about his journey to this…
Victor’s Story
Victor, a Ready to Work trainee, generously shared his story about his amazing transition from homelessness to the Ready to Work program. Please read his story to learn about the transformative power of Bridge House’s Ready to Work program. Before Victor became homeless, he had dreams of becoming a sous chef. He went to school…
Jay’s Story
“Bridge House saved my life! I am off the streets and have graduated from Ready to Work.” “I now have a great job at Whole Foods.” Three years ago Jay was in a very different situation. When he was living paycheck to paycheck, one thing went wrong and it turned his life upside down. “I…
Barbara’s Story
My name is Barbara and I am a Ready to Work graduate. I can honestly say that joining the Ready to Work program was one of the best choices I have made for myself in a longtime. My childhood was not a traditional one. My parents belonged to the Hells Angels Motorcycle gang. Growing up…
Ladd’s Story
As we sat down at a local coffee shop the first thing Ladd said to me was, “I never expected to end up living on the street with nowhere to go. I had my own construction business and I thought that homelessness was something that I didn’t have to worry about.” Ladd’s problem was economics.…