In 2003, our founder met a young man in Old Town Fort Collins who had just aged out of foster care. With no resources available in Larimer County for youth in his situation, he was left couch-surfing and living on the streets. Motivated by his story, The Matthews House was established to provide a safe space for system-involved youth, offering the resources and support needed to break free from cycles of poverty and abuse and move toward independence.

After several years and hundreds of success stories, we recognized the importance of working with families to prevent crises before they occur. By improving family relationships, providing essential resources, and offering ongoing coaching, we’ve been able to positively impact hundreds  of families annually.

In 2024, we expanded by returning to our roots, inspired by that young man who aged out of the foster care system and the growing need to support unaccompanied youth in our community. While we couldn’t solve the homelessness problem back in 2003, we have since developed numerous creative solutions. Unfortunately, youth under 18 cannot access adult shelters, and today, over 1,800 youth and young adults in Northern Colorado are homeless, with 1 in 30 young adults having slept somewhere other than their home in the past month.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Thompson School District and other close partners to open Northern Colorado’s first youth shelter in Fall 2024.