Colorado Springs housing for homeless youth opens soon
(COLORADO SPRINGS)— The controversial supportive housing project, The Launchpad, which has been in the works for over two years, will officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 27.
The Launchpad, located at 846 North 19th St., is a four-story, 50-unit permanent supportive apartment home community for young adults aged 18 to 24. Local nonprofit The PLACE is behind the idea. Staff said it's not a shelter; instead, residents commit to a one-year lease.
Organizers said there will be strict oversight, including on-site management with 24-hour program staff and security measures, as well as tenant support with education, jobs, and self-sufficiency life skills.
Through this new community, The PLACE will also provide support and foster connections at one accessible and single location for residents, including job placement assistance, life skills coaching, access to healthcare, and more.
Multi-million dollar Colorado Springs supportive housing project approved
El Paso County tracked 568 homeless youth and young adults through age 24 last year, according to the inaugural State of Homelessness Report in Colorado that was released last month by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative.
Staff tell FOX21 News that The Launchpad is conceived through the lens of trauma-informed design (TID), integrating trauma-informed care principles into design to fashion physical spaces promoting safety, well-being, and healing. This design will provide small reading nooks adjoining a spacious common area, a laundry space featuring windows overlooking the TV lounge, and a community kitchen transitioning to an outdoor space.
The multi-million dollar project is funded through a public-private partnership and various grants.
FOX21 will update this article after speaking with nearby neighbors and businesses in the area.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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