Project Highlight: Hilltop Latimer House Expansion

Expanding Safe Housing for Survivors in Grand Junction

Hilltop’s Latimer House expansion provides additional safe, confidential housing for individuals and families escaping intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and familial violence. Through the purchase of a four-unit residential property, Hilltop expanded the capacity of the Latimer House program to meet growing community needs while providing survivors with a secure place to begin rebuilding their lives.

The property was purchased in August 2023 and includes four separate housing units that operate as part of Hilltop’s broader safe house program. Because resident safety and confidentiality are essential, the location and identifying details of the property are not publicly disclosed.

Each unit provides survivors with a stable and private living environment while they work with Hilltop staff to develop individualized plans for safety, housing stability, employment, financial independence, and long-term well-being. The expanded property allows the program to serve more households while offering the privacy and flexibility needed to support individuals and families with different circumstances.

A Partnership Investment

The Hilltop Latimer House expansion demonstrates how local partnerships can provide immediate and lasting benefits for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

City Council approved the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for Hilltop to support the acquisition of the four-unit property and expand the community’s available safe housing. The total project budget was approximately $300,000.

The investment helped Hilltop:

• Purchase an additional residential property for the Latimer House program.
• Expand services for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and familial violence.
• Provide residents with greater stability while they transition toward permanent housing and independence.
• Strengthen the community’s broader network of emergency and supportive housing resources.

By investing in an existing residential property, Hilltop was able to expand program capacity efficiently while maintaining a setting that feels safe, private, and residential for participants.

Supporting Grand Junction’s Housing Goals

The four Latimer House units also supported the City of Grand Junction’s affordable housing production goals under Colorado Proposition 123. The units were counted toward the City’s Proposition 123 housing commitment in 2026, recognizing the important role that emergency and transitional housing plays within the community’s broader housing system.

These units provide more than temporary shelter. They create a critical bridge between crisis and long-term stability, giving survivors the time, privacy, and support needed to identify permanent housing and move forward safely.

The project also advances the City’s goal of supporting a range of housing options that respond to different levels of need, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive services, affordable rental housing, and pathways to permanent housing.

Creating Safety and Stability

Residents of the Latimer House program receive more than a place to stay. Hilltop provides confidential, trauma-informed services designed to support each participant’s individual needs. Services may include safety planning, advocacy, case management, connections to legal and healthcare resources, housing navigation, employment support, and assistance accessing community programs.

The four-unit property allows individuals and families to remain together in a private setting while receiving support from experienced staff. This model helps reduce the disruption often experienced by survivors leaving unsafe situations and provides a stable foundation from which they can begin planning for the future.

A Lasting Community Impact

The Hilltop Latimer House expansion represents a targeted investment in safety, dignity, and long-term housing stability. By adding four confidential units to the community’s safe housing inventory, the project allows more survivors to access immediate protection while working toward permanent housing and greater independence.

The partnership between Hilltop and the City of Grand Junction demonstrates how relatively small, strategic housing investments can create meaningful and lasting community impact. The project strengthens the local response to domestic and interpersonal violence, supports the City’s Proposition 123 housing goals, and ensures that survivors have access to safe, quality housing when they need it most.