Maybe you’re a planner and you think you’re prepared for even the worst-case scenario. The harsh truth is that fire is unpredictable and most people believe it won't happen to them.
Did you know that one third of homes do not have working smoke alarms and 58% of the population doesn’t know how to use a fire extinguisher? Every day there are 1,000 home fires in the U.S, including 9 in Colorado, and 2 in the Denver Metro Area. Home fires affect more people than all other disasters.
When Aladdin’s home fire happened, his girlfriend had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. The evening of her first cancer surgery, Aladdin decided to stay at her house to provide post-surgical care and moral support for her and her teenage daughter. That is the night his own apartment burned down. And yet, Aladdin has made a remarkable comeback. He has become a father-figure to his girlfriend’s daughter and a more dedicated companion. He also understands that when you pull yourself out of the ashes you get a clean slate on which to rebuild.
This is only one story of hope. In the aftermath of these very personal disasters, Our Front Porch (OFP) helps people create a recovery plan to mitigate the financial losses, support their mental health, provide housing assistance, and help with basic resources.
You make the difference in how many people we can reach with these vital services.
Your donation allows for every home fire survivor to receive free undies and bras, case management, mental health support, and guidance on next steps in their recovery process. Whether people need help replacing important documents, finding new housing, dealing with a difficult landlord, figuring out their insurance benefits, or talking to a therapist, all of that is available at no charge. When you have lost everything in a matter of minutes, help should be free. And there is also no expiration date on receiving help, because disaster recovery can last months or even years.
If it were your loss, we would want to be there. Will you join us in helping someone during this very personal moment of need? It’s community that makes the biggest difference in crises like these. OFP has been successfully providing that community for fire survivors since our founding in 2013. With you as our partner, we can extend essential support and make sure that the fire inside each survivor burns brighter than the fire that surrounded them.
You can be someone’s hero. OFP stands alone in our mission. No other organization in Colorado is providing these critical services which could leave fire survivors without vital support. However, our partnership with the American Red Cross ensures efficient referrals, while proactive outreach and personalized assistance ensure no survivor falls through the cracks. The last piece is you. Your donation ensures we have access to all the resources available.
Do you know what we see when we show up for victims of home fires? Love. During the aftermath of devastation, love floats like ash on the wind.
"There are all these people who show up after a fire, and you were the only ones here to help."
"That package of Hanes was like heaven that day!"
"As a fire loss survivor who was helped immeasurably by OFP, I know how extremely valuable and needed OFP is!"
Our Front Porch helps Colorado home fire survivors navigate the ups and downs of the recovery journey so they don't have to go it alone. We provide long-term disaster recovery in the form of disaster case management, trauma recovery services, and housing navigation. We utilize a holistic approach to address the cascading effects one experiences following a disaster.
Our Front Porch started as a collaboration between a social worker and an architect who saw a huge gap in long-term disaster recovery, especially with respect to home fires. The recovery from a house fire is no different than that of a large scale disaster, like a wildfire or a flood, but home fire survivors don't have access to the same state and local resources. Home fires affect more people than all other disasters, and Denver has no shortage of home fire survivors.
OFP began as an idea in 2013 and shortly thereafter started providing disaster case management, housing navigation, and trauma recovery services to clients and obtained 501(c)3 status in 2019. The American Red Cross Mile High Chapter has always been a great partner of Our Front Porch, providing short-term crisis response work to home fire survivors and then referring families to OFP for long-term recovery support. We also provide free underwear and bras, as it is one thing everyone needs but doesn't want to ask for after losing everything in a fire.
No other organization addresses the cascading effects of long-term disaster recovery for as long as it takes. We have adapted and added to our programs over time to reflect the needs of our clients, including insurance claim navigation and rebuilding guidance for homeowners. Home fire recovery support may not make the daily news, but with no other organization serving this population, it is a much needed service and one that OFP is proud to fill.
Organization name
Our Front Porch
other names
OFP
2018
Tax id (EIN)
83-1866231
Category
Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
789 Sherman St Suite 360Mailing
6740 E Colfax AveDenver County, CO, US