Karis Community

“The form 990 is provided to all board members electronically prior to filing electronically with the irs.”

“Board and staff members annually disclose and update, when necessary, any interest that could give rise to potential conflicts of interest.”

“The executive committee of the board of directors meets to evaluate the executive director and to recommend a salary and a bonus, if applicable, for the executive director. They use information from the colorado nonprofit association's bi-annual salary survey and other sources for comparison of market rates for salary. The executive director's salary is approved by the board and is provided to the executive director in a letter signed by the board chair.”

“Governing and financial documents are available upon request. Annual reports, including summary financial data for several prior years, are available at www.kariscommunity.org. This report also provides detailed accountability of the results of the served client/resident population.”

“Karis is located in the metropolitan denver area; however, we have established a local and national reputation for success. We receive referrals and requests for information daily, not only from the denver area but throughout colorado and around the country. Close to 1/3 of our current community members have moved to karis from states outside colorado. Karis is the only community-model residential program of its kind in colorado and one of few nationwide. There is a critical lack of affordable housing and mental health treatment options for individuals not requiring hospitalization but who are not yet ready to live independently. Due to the support of generous donors, karis can offer a low resident fee of 685 for a single room. This fee is considered extremely low-income housing in denver and helps teach accountability, financial awareness, and realistic integration into the mainstream of life. Our program is a stepping stone to independent living in the community. Our fees offer a representation of what life will be like outside karis. Monthly fees cover individual check- ins, support groups, community meals, household supplies, utilities, social and recreational activities, 24-hour staff availability, and more. Other therapeutic communities charge upwards of 10,000 per month, making our commitment to accessibility and affordability unique among similar organizations. Most of our community members have financial resources below the poverty line; many have managed homelessness at some point in their lifetime. Nearly all members utilize public support, such as medicaid and social security benefits, to assist in their recovery process. Over the past fiscal year, karis experienced the following major accomplishments: - karis served over 100 individuals from july 1, 2022 - june 30, 2023, including current community members, residents at the stepping stone cottage, applicants on the waiting list needing immediate support, applicants who may not be ready for the program but require resources, and the alumni group. - staff tracks community members' living situations before joining the community. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, 38.5% were managing homelessness, living in a group home, treatment facility, or sober living environment; 46.5% were living with family members; and 15% were living independently. Karis also tracks community members' daily structure before entering the program and the ability to create or maintain structure during the program. Upon arrival, less than 40% had any daily structure. During their participation at karis, over 95% were employed, volunteering, attending school, or engaged in treatment programming. - in the fiscal year 2022-2023, community members experienced 202 hospitalizations throughout their lifetimes, 31 hospitalizations the year before their stay at karis, and four hospitalizations during their stay. Beginning in january 2022, we increased tracking around the use of our 24- hour crisis pager to assess when the pager prevents hospitalization versus when hospitalization is unavoidable. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, there were 11 pager calls, only one resulting in a need for a higher level of care. There was a dramatic decrease in psychiatric hospitalizations during community members' stay at karis, providing substantial cost savings for the individuals and the larger community. - in recent years, the program manager and executive director experienced a desire to offer alternate options for those not yet ready for our empowerment program. This observation led us to hire an additional full- time staff member, an operations and community services manager. This position allows the program team members to focus on their job responsibilities while giving the community - both within and outside karis' walls - the time, services, resources, and attention they deserve. - karis partners with over 40 agencies and hospitals to receive referrals and provide continuity of care for community members. - karis striv”