A new pathway out of homelessness

Joe and Christina were far more accustomed to being treated with suspicion. As soon as they enrolled Joey in his new high school, for instance, an administrator called them into the office. "He was like, 'We need an action plan for attendance. We need an action plan for grades,' " Christina said, her voice rough with anger. "My son has all A's. He's never missed a day."

Christina had been fighting assumptions since she first met Joe. He was living on the streets of Las Vegas, hanging with a gang, tattoos up and down his arms. Christina saw beyond the tough-guy pose. They married young.

The couple shuttled between Las Vegas and Denver several times over the years to be near relatives. Christina usually found work quickly, often at a fast-food restaurant or a Wal-Mart. But three years ago, she hit a dry spell and was unemployed for nearly a year.

The family spent several months in shelters -- each week a different church basement, a different set of eyes judging them.

The motel was more private, but with $420 due every two weeks -- about half her income -- Christina couldn't save toward a security deposit for an apartment. So they stayed in their two-bedroom unit, their clothes heaped in plastic bins, all four kids crowded into a single room. Joe almost never let them play outside. It was too dangerous.

All that was behind them now: They had a fenced-in yard with a rope swing. They still didn't have a table, and had to sit on the floor to eat. But there was a TV, left by previous tenants. And, in the bathroom, a linen closet. "We've never actually had a closet with a door!" Christina said as she opened it. The shelves contained a curling iron, a toy block and a washcloth.

Angel, trailing her mother, pointed out the washing machine and creaky dryer. "Now you don't have to go to the laundromat on the weekends," she told her mom. "And I don't miss you."

A turn for the worse

In the two years since Hickenlooper issued his challenge, 150 congregations have reached out to about 300 homeless families. More than 80% remain in rental housing a year after completing the mentoring program, which is funded with about $200,000 from the city and an equal amount from the rescue mission.

At first, Mark and Dave felt certain the Maestas family would be one of the success stories. Joe would get a job. Little by little, the family would build up a rainy-day reserve, then start saving toward bigger goals.