Bridge House

Bridge House's Ready to Work program is a "work-first" solution to address homelessness. Ready to Work applies a business approach toward solving increasingly difficult and expensive social problems - Homelessness, joblessness, and criminal recidivism. Founded on the belief that when given the opportunity individuals experiencing homelessness can and are willing to work, Ready to Work creates paid transitional work opportunities as the core element of a comprehensive program providing a pathway to independence for men and women experiencing homelessness. Ready to Work trainees participate in three elements of the program including paid work in a ready to work social enterprise; housing in a supportive, communal setting called Ready to Work House; and participating in case management for one year before graduating to mainstream employment and independent housing. Immediately upon acceptance into Ready to Work participants are contributing members of the community. Ready to Work House residents go to work every day, pay taxes, pay room and board, and call Ready to Work House home for one year. Currently, the program offers employment and housing to 44 men and women.

Community Table Kitchen: Community Table Kitchen demonstrates what is possible when mission and business marry. Opened in 2013, and often described as the most dynamic kitchen in Boulder, Community Table Kitchen transforms lives one bite at a time. We have a triple bottom line. First, at Community Table Kitchen we produce meals for hungry people who have no other access to food. We prepare meals that are healthy, nutritious and balanced by cooking in real-time, from scratch. The organization partners with the local food bank, Community Food Share, to access donated ingredients and offers the community Table Meal program to serve over 130,000 meals a year to people experiencing homelessness. Second, Community Table Kitchen creates employment opportunities by providing jobs and job training for Ready to Work trainees. We offer meaningful paid work that builds a resume and real-world work experience. Through a mix of on-the-job and classroom training, Community Table Kitchen trainees are taught knife skills, food prep and production, and safe food handling. Trainees complete the ServSafe Certification prior to graduating into a full-time food service job. Third, under the leadership of executive chef John Trejo, Community Table Kitchen runs three market-based lines of business - catering, wholesale and cafe operations. We offer customers competitive, top notch quality and service. Through these ventures, Community Table Kitchen earns revenue to support operations and our social mission.