BRIDGE
Building Resource Insight & Direction Groups for Equity
Building Resource Insight & Direction Groups for Equity
Chaffee County has many caring organizations, helpful programs, and people who want to support their neighbors. But even with all these resources, many people still struggle to get help when they need it.
BRIDGE exists to change that.
BRIDGE helps people connect to people, not just websites or phone numbers. It makes sure no one has to face confusing systems alone, especially during hard times.
BRIDGE does not replace existing services.
It connects them.
It helps Chaffee County move from:
Crisis response → early support
Referrals → relationships
Fragmentation → community care
We don’t send people to resources.
We send people to people.
When life gets hard, it can be very difficult to ask for help or figure out where to start.
Many people face barriers like:
Stress or crisis
Health issues
Aging or care-giving
Language or technology challenges
Living far from services
Trauma induced brain fog
Time constraints
Often, people are given a list of resources and told to figure it out on their own. That doesn’t work when someone is overwhelmed, scared, or exhausted.
By the time help shows up in emergency rooms, eviction court, or law enforcement, the situation has already become much worse.
In 2026, Chaffee County is facing real challenges:
Housing costs are rising
Affordable housing is limited
Behavioral health care is hard to access
Many residents want to age in place
Transportation is a barrier for almost everything
Childcare, work, and housing are closely connected
We already have strong programs and partnerships. What’s missing is a way to connect them quickly and kindly, before a crisis happens.
That’s where BRIDGE comes in.
BRIDGE is built around one simple idea:
No wrong door for help.
A concern can come from anywhere:
A resident asking for help
A neighbor, teacher, or employer noticing something is wrong
A nonprofit or agency that wants to help but can’t
A regional partner seeing a problem coming
If someone raises a concern, BRIDGE listens.
A BRIDGE Architect is a connector. They know the community, the people, and the systems.
They:
Listen carefully
Figure out what kind of help is needed
Reach out to the right people or groups
Make sure the person asking for help is treated with dignity
The Architect is not a case manager or gatekeeper. Their job is to make warm, human connections.
BRIDGE works through circles, not hierarchies.
Some circles are ongoing, like:
Basic needs (food, utilities)
Housing
Aging and senior support
Health and behavioral health
Youth and families
Disability and inclusion
Other circles come together for specific issues, like:
Seasonal rent problems
Transportation disruptions
Policy changes
Disasters or emergencies
There are also geographic circles, focused on specific neighborhoods or housing areas.
Circles don’t meet all the time. They are ready when they are needed.
Instead of handing someone a phone number, BRIDGE helps make a warm handoff.
For example:
Someone is worried about food and rent
The Architect contacts people who know those systems
Options are shared clearly
The person chooses what works best for them
A real introduction is made
The goal is to feel welcomed, not passed around.
Follow up is where community grows
Faster help
Less confusion
More dignity
Fewer crises
For Organizations
Better coordination
Less duplication
Stronger relationships
For the County
Earlier warning signs
Better policy insight
Lower long-term costs
More trust with the community
If someone needs help right away—food, housing, safety, transportation—BRIDGE acts immediately.
Big conversations and planning happen after the person is stable.
Sometimes BRIDGE notices patterns, like:
Many people struggling with the same issue
Gaps in services
Policies causing harm
When this happens, BRIDGE brings people together in thoughtful ways.
For sensitive or emotional issues, people meet in separate but connected groups:
Community members with lived experience
Service providers and professionals
Elected officials or decision-makers
This allows everyone to speak honestly and listen deeply—without pressure or blame.
BETCH
Chaffee Housing Trust
Habitat for Humanity (Chaffee County)
Housing Solutions Fund (CCCF)
Chaffee Cares
Chaffee County Hospitality, Inc.
Community Pet Fund
First Presbyterian
Foodshed Alliance
Methodist Church
Sharing & Caring
Boys & Girls Club of Chaffee County
Buena Vista Pregnancy Center
Buena Vista School District
Colorado Mountain College
Colorado State University
ElevateHER
Family & Youth Initiatives (FYI)
Salida School District
Sparkle Hangouts
Ark Valley Helping Hands
Mountain Valley Transit
Valley to Valley Senior Care
The Alliance
Chaffee Community Clinic
Chaffee Public Health
The Colorado Health Foundation
Heart Of The Rockies Regional Medical Center
Mindfulness in the Jail Program
NAMI Chaffee County
Sagebrush Recovery
Solvista
Achieve Inc.
BV Pride Coalition
Central Colorado SURJ (CCSURJ)
Colorado Autism Consultants
KHEN Community Radio
Lovers BV
PFCA
PFLAG Buena Vista Ark Valley
Starpoint Salida
Foodshed Alliance
GARNA (Greater Arkansas River Nature Association)
Guidestone
Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC)
BV Basecamp
Collegiate Commons
Midland Apartments
Pinon Pines Mobile Home Park
River Rest Mobile Home Park
River Village Mobile Home Park (BV)
Sleeping Indian Mobile Park
Sunrise Manor
Valley Mobile RV Park
Chalk Creek Campground & RV Park
Chateau Chaparral
De Anza Vista
Mountain Valley Mobile Home Park
505 Apartments
Angelview Apartments
Apple Grove Mobile Home Park
Confluent Apartments
Eastside MHP
Fish Acres Mobile Home Park
Grand View Park
Jane’s Place Apartments
Magpie
McCoy Mobile Village
Mt. Shavano Manor
Riverbend Apartments
Rivers Edge MHP
Salida Apartments
Salida Ridge Apartments
Board of County Commissioners
Buena Vista City Council
Buena Vista Police Department
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office
Poncha Springs Board of Trustees
Salida City Council
Salida Police Department
Alpine Achievers
Chaffee County Community Foundation (CCCF)
Chaffee County Women Who Care (CCWWC)
Mountain Valley Transit
We Are Chaffee