What is Colfax Works?

Photo courtesy of Consolidated Services Group / Evan Semón

Colfax Works is an initiative of the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District (BID). The program provides employment opportunities (within the BID’s boundaries), supportive services, and transitional housing to help provide a path to independence and stability for those experiencing or emerging from homelessness.

Crews assist with litter and graffiti removal within the BID’s boundaries (Grant to Josephine, 14th to 16th). Team members receive important supportive services along with housing for up to one year.

2023 Update

Our Colfax Works program began with a small pilot project in 2018. Since then, over 30 of our crew members have graduated from the program into full-time employment and independent housing!


We’ve learned a great deal since the program’s inception and worked with various partners throughout the process. In order to make the program the best it can be, we’re taking the 2022 calendar year to evaluate the Colfax Works program with the intention of it returning in 2024 to continue to extend a helping hand to those in the community who need it most.


So while you’ll still see our clean team out on Colfax every day (learn more about what they do here), our Colfax Works program is reorganizing to ensure we’re doing everything we can to support our crew members when they return to the street. We’re so thankful for the incredible support this program has received from the Colfax community and the City of Denver.

Media Coverage

Testimonials

Ron Vaughn

I have been working on Colfax Ave for 25 years and have seen a multitude of different plans and programs to deal with homelessness. Ignoring, enforcement sweeps and relocation have not worked for this issue. Colfax Works give people challenged in life a job, self esteem and a paycheck. I personally think this is the path to addressing this problem.

Ron Vaughn
Argonaut Wine & Liquor

Henry Springer

This is awesome. I just ran into some people picking up trash on my street (which is a huge problem). So great that this is a thing. THANK YOU!

Henry Springer
Resident

Will Bright-Frare

Love the work crew and give them an enthusiastic shout out every time I see them in the yellow shirts. Great work!

Will Bright-Frare
1st Bank

Phil Blane

Today I noticed the Colfax Works team picking up trash on the 1400 block of Josephine Street. This is a never-ending task that I have been doing for the past 15 years. What a nice surprise to get this kind of help!

Phil Blane
Resident

Jason

Hey guys, homeowner here at 14th and York. We’ve seen the crew and are impressed! Thanks for having the crew wear shirts with the pilot name, otherwise we wouldn’t know. Please continue this project next year too. Inspires us to donate to the crew and help out.

Jason
Resident

Preston Murray

I’ve participated in trash clean ups within the Colfax BID for the past 3 years and have never seen Colfax as clean as it is today. There has been a visible decrease in amount of trash since the Colfax Works program began.

Preston Murray
Resident + Community Clean Up Leader

Robin Rothman

I met the crew last week and they were very nice, knowledgeable and hard-working.

Robin
Resident

Joni

I live right off Colfax so I know how quickly trash accumulates. Since the crew has been out there working I am amazed to see hardly any accumulation as they remove it so quickly. It looks wonderful!

Joni
Resident

Patty Brosmer

It’s heartwarming to see Colfax Works up and running, making a difference in the community and the lives of the workers.  There’s no greater gift you can give someone than the opportunity to turn their lives around. Please keep it going!

Patty Brosmer
Ready, Willing & Working

Charlie Woolley

Thanks for your help. We really need this program to continue!

Charlie Woolley
St. Charles Town Company

Kandi Justice

I stopped to thank one of the participants of this program. He said he was blessed to get a new residence within the last month due to the assistance this program had given him. I am appreciative of a program that is truly making a difference and is giving people a real opportunity to improve their lives. Thank you to all who contribute.

Kandi
Resident

Holly T.

I live one block from Colfax on High street – I can’t thank you and your crew enough for the clean up project. It has made such a huge difference on my street and specifically on the corner of Colfax and High which has always been so littered with trash. There has been a marked improvement recently and I LOVE this program and make a point of thanking the workers every time I see them out and about!

Holly
Resident