Adams County American Rescue Plan Act funding

Grants to help domestic violence, homelessness

Staff Report

In a second round of American Rescue Plan Act funding, Adams County will distributed $48.5 million to address housing and homelessness prevention, mental health, domestic violence and public health initiatives.

“Adams County recognizes the housing and mental health crisis in our communities,” said Steve O’Dorisio, county commission chair. “ is second round of ARPA funding allows us to

Letter To The Editor

Time for Change on the United Power Board

After serving as a United Power Director from the South District for 3 terms (9 years) I have decided not to seek re-election in 2023. I have enjoyed representing and working for the members during this time and I will miss that relationship and the positive accomplishments during my tenure on the board. I also lean into these challenges to improve outcomes for our most vulnerable residents.” e Board of County Commissioners has identi ed several partnerships and initiatives to distribute the funds. ose include $4.3 million for respite housing for Adams County residents eeing domestic violence. Domestic violence is currently the leading cause of homelessness in Adams County. e Land Trust received $7 million in partnership Maiker Housing Partners, the county’s housing authority. e partnership will use the funds for market-timed acquisition of parcels for a ordable housing projects. e Colorado Coalition for the Homeless would like to thank all United Power members who voted for me and supported me during my term of o ce. I had the opportunity to listen to all the new candidates running for the United Power Board this election cycle at a Brighton Kiwanis Club meeting. None of the incumbents were in attendance and it was refreshing to hear creative ideas from new candidates. I also have read the

Turn To The Colorado Sun For News Across The State

The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself. In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado. The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and non-partisan journalism. It covers everything from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and e Homeless Campus Partnership with the City of Aurora will receive $5 million for the creation of a $70 million campus. e campus will feature 150 shelter beds, 80 transitional units, and a full-service day center with laundry, mental health services, housing navigation, and case management. e Mental/Behavioral Health initiatives will receive $9.1 million in funding. e initiatives include identifying community needs, resources, and gaps in access to care. e Mobile Mental Health/Human Services will receive $1.8 million for resumes from all the candidates, and I think the United Power Board is long overdue for a change in leadership and allow for new faces with innovative ideas at the board level. ere is currently an opportunity to elect three new board members with quali ed candidates who have good ideas on how to resolve the power supply issue in a more timely and frugal manner. Lowering the education.

Partnership received $3.8 milion to acquire property for transitional and permanently supportive housing.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for access to outreach for people experiencing homelessness. e Strengthening Families Partnership with the Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County, and the Human Services and Public Health departments will receive $1.2 million for early childhood prevention services for mental health intervention. e county will work closely with the county commissioners, local stakeholders and other community leaders to ensure the funding is allocated eciently and e ectively, and it produces tangible bene ts for the people of Adams County. With this second round of ARPA funding, Adams County will have received a total of $101 million in relief. power rates and providing more energy options for all members should continue to be a major goal for the United Power Board in 2023.

I urge voting members to carefully consider the choices, the diversity, and quali cations of residency of the candidates currently and vote for some needed change at the board level.

Dave Rose, Brighton, former director

statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun. com.

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Type in “restaurant” on Google Maps and set the lter to “open 24 hours.” You’ll be hard-pressed to nd any local restaurants serving up food to the night owls, late workers and early risers.

Unless you’re seeking around-the-clock Mexican food.

“We’re open 24 hours, and it’s something fresh, you know?” said Govanny Alvarado, a member of the family who runs Alvarado’s Mexican Fast Food. Compared to other restaurants, “you can taste the di erence,” Alvarado said.

e new Englewood spot that opened in August adds to a small but mighty list of Mexican joints that o er all-day, all-night service in the Denver metro area — a type of restaurant that’s becoming more di cult to nd since the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

“Most people like us, you know, we’re always looking for a late-night snack,” said Alvarado, 21, adding that his family “understands the struggle” to nd restaurants that are open late.

His family members, longtime workers in the Mexican fast-food industry, gained experience at his uncle’s restaurant in Arizona. ey later started working for Taco Star and Tacos Rapidos, two chains with 24-hour locations in the metro area, Alvarado said.

“And Taco Star, the one in ornton here, that’s where my dad worked, and that’s where I started as well when I was young,” Alvarado said of the location near 84th Avenue and Washington Street.

When his family members had the chance to start their own restaurant about six years ago, they opened Tacos Los Compas — another 24-hour eatery, near downtown Denver and the Auraria Campus.

“Most of the people that I’ve known or talked to customer-wise, they’re all from Arizona or California, and they all say they miss that taste of authentic Mexican food,” Alvarado said.

Carrying on authentic recipes is part of the job as well for Tamale Kitchen, a longstanding family business with locations around the metro area.

What makes the restaurant unique is “the green chile, the New Mexico-style red chile, the tamale avors, just the avors in general of just old grandma recipe — the beans, the rice, everything’s grandma’s recipes,” said Jose Bishop, owner of the Westminster and Northglenn locations.

e restaurant grew out of an e ort to sell tamales door to door in 1980, and the rst Tamale Kitchen opened in Lakewood in 1981, according to its website.

Its Northglenn location at 104th Avenue and Huron Street stays open around the clock on the weekends, running from 5 a.m. Friday through 10 p.m. Sunday.

e business has expanded to eight locations, stretching from Adams County all the way to Highlands Ranch, and some are franchises run by people outside the family, Bishop said.

Familiar places see challenges

Alvarado noted that after the COVID-19 pandemic shook up the