I recently spoke with Eric Meyer, program manager from the WellPower’s Child and Family program and project director at the H.I.K.E Project. The H.I.K.E. Project provides services for homeless 16-24 years olds in the Denver Area with mental health, substance use, and reduce risk for HIV/AIDS. H.I.K.E. stands for “Health. Intervention. Knowledge. Education.”

Q: How did the H.I.K.E. Project start?

Eric: There were two main ingredients. First, there was a need within the WellPower to develop treatment for youth in particular. We had treatment in our Child and Family program for teens up to age 18—but while some would qualify for services in our Adult Treatment program, many would not. There was a void there. Most of the youth population we were trying to serve needed to be treated not only for mental health, but also for substance abuse issues. We were fortunate enough to receive a five-year grant that targeted this underserved population in Denver. That’s how Project H.I.K.E. began.

Q: What other organizations are a part of the H.I.K.E. Project? How did those partnerships develop?

Eric: The grant not only pays for the WellPower’s efforts to treat these youth, but also for outreach orders at an organization called “Urban Peak” and also for the work done by another partnering organization called The Council on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. With the awarding of the grant, partnerships began to develop around the treatment of this youth population. Urban Peak was already on the ground working with homeless youth. They had a shelter for youth up to 21 years old with showers and other resources. They also had a “drop-in center” for these young adults. We began cooperating with them and were fortunate enough to benefit from them in sharing our resources. The Council on Mental Health and Substance Abuse offered some very specialized groups centered upon substance abuse treatment that were a bonus for us in treating the substance abuse issues.

Q: Who interacts with the homeless youth? How do they become involved with the H.I.K.E. Project?

Eric: Outreach workers are located at the drop-in center at Urban Peak. They go out into the community and engage the homeless youth and help to get them into treatment. Altogether, Project H.I.K.E. is able to offer between 2000 and 5000 outreach efforts per year.

Q: I know that the need for donations is greater around the holiday season. How can someone support the H.I.K.E. Project?

Eric: Most of the time homeless youth need things that are really basic like socks, underwear, and other personal items. Donations of these items can be dropped off at the Urban Peak drop-in center located at 730 21st Street in Denver. There is also a need for cash donations so that we can purchase emergency hotel vouchers for when the shelter fills up. Cash donations also go towards funding transportation to and from events. Personal hygiene items like soap, deodorant, etc can be dropped off at the WellPower’s “A New Day Resource Center” located at 3101 W. 14th Avenue in Denver.

Q: Do you have any final comments about the partnerships that make up the H.I.K.E. Project?

Eric: Just that the collaborative efforts of the partnering organizations are greater than what just one of them could do alone.

You can make a donation to the H.I.K.E. Project online here through the WellPower’s online giving page. Please be sure to earmark your contribution for “The H.I.K.E. Project.” 

You can “Like” the H.I.K.E. Project on Facebook here. 

Watch a video describing project partner “Urban Peak’s” work with homeless youth here.