Seagate Funds Agency Efforts to Help Homeless in Longmont

LONGMONT, Colo.-Seagate Technology has donated $5,000 to Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement (HOPE), a newly formed non-profit agency that helps homeless individuals find and effectively use the services they need to get back on their feet and off the streets.

The Longmont-based agency provides everything from short-term, emergency aid on the streets at night to long-term support through education, case management and transportation to social services. “So many times, these individuals don’t have the life skills they need to navigate the road to self-sufficiency,” said Bray Patrick-Lake, executive director at HOPE. “And very often, social service agencies don’t have the staff or budget to provide the kind of intensive oversight homeless clients frequently require. The mission of HOPE is to bridge that gap—to remove the barriers that keep these individuals from moving off the streets and into a healthy, productive lifestyle in mainstream society.”

HOPE was formed this past May by a group of Longmont citizens who had been volunteering their time to help the homeless in Boulder County for several years. The agency now has a 13-member board, more than 40 volunteers, and one paid staff member. Since its inception, HOPE has begun working with more than 130 homeless individuals, five of whom have now secured permanent housing and are receiving supportive follow-up services to help them sustain their progress. Another individual, a senior war veteran, now has a dependable vehicle for transportation to help him look for work. And scores of others have been accompanied by volunteers to court appearances, medical appointments and surgeries.

“Much of what we’ve learned about the homeless here in Longmont came from our own employees who have volunteered for this cause,” said Seagate vice president Andy Davis. “There are a number of very dedicated and compassionate men and women at Seagate who have been helping the homeless for years—bringing them blankets in sub-zero weather and helping them find jobs and learn new skills. Many of these employees are volunteers at HOPE, and we’re happy to support their efforts through funding of this very important organization.”