The interim CEO for the past three months at The Place took over Friday as the permanent leader of the organization, which operates Colorado Springs’ only licensed emergency shelter for homeless youths ages 15-20.

“I’m excited,” said Becky Treece. “We’re just trying to make sure all young people have a safe place to belong.”

The job drew 85 applicants from around the nation, said Mimi Brown, chair of the nine-member board of directors. Seven candidates were interviewed, which yielded two finalists.

The board unanimously selected Treece, Brown said, because of her commitment to the organization’s mission to help youths exit homelessness and create “self-determined, fulfilled lives.”

Treece started working as chief development officer at The Place in December of 2022.

The organization was founded in 2000 as Urban Peak Colorado Springs, and for the past 10 years had been headed by Shawna Kemppainen, who resigned last fall.

“The great thing is that The Place has such a longstanding track record in the community through our shelter, outreach, drop-in center and housing programs,” Treece said.

An inclusive leadership approach and her experience in human-service nonprofits also made Treece stand out, Brown said.

Treece formerly worked for Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, TESSA domestic violence prevention and Warren Village, a Denver organization that rehouses homeless and low-income single parents and operates residential communal living for teen parents.

“She has a depth of experience, from strategic planning and development to being able to communicate well in the community as well as work collaboratively with staff at every place she was,” Brown said.

Treece oversees a staff of 45, with five vacancies she intends to fill.

Over the next few months, Treece said she will focus her time and energy on bringing to completion the city’s first supportive apartment complex for homeless young adults, ages 18 through 24 years old.

The project, which Kansas-based developer Cohen-Esrey Development Group is building on 1.3 acres of vacant land north of the intersection of North 19th and West Uintah streets, faced strong neighborhood opposition last year in seeking city approval for development.

Residents objected to its four-story height and density along with concerns about landslides and the project’s compatibility with the neighborhood. After receiving City Council approval on Aug. 8, some opponents sued the the city of Colorado Springs over the project.

The case in El Paso County District Court is pending; on Feb. 13 the city requested an extension of time, which the judge granted.

With the concrete foundation just poured, the 50-unit building is on schedule to open in November, Treece said.

Residents will receive support services from The Place, including assistance with education, employment and mental health, to help them remain self-sufficient. The services and housing will be free of charge, with vouchers from the Colorado Division of Housing paying the rent.

Pre-leasing will begin in August, Treece said.

“We’ll emphasize having it fully leased up when it opens,” she said.

On any given night, there are 150 homeless youths in Colorado Springs, Treece said. While the organization saw a 12% decline in the number of youths served last year, at 562, the average length of stay for adolescents using its 20-bed homeless shelter increased from 17 days to 21 days, Treece said.

“Folks are staying a little longer, which means we can’t serve as many because the beds are full,” she said.

Mental health is a growing concern among homeless teens and young adults; 70% of last year’s clients of The Place said they thought they had something going on emotionally or mentally that was a barrier to them not getting rehoused or employed.

That reflects an 11% increase over 2022, Treece said.

“We are seeing more and more concerns around the barriers to becoming stably housed with the youth population we serve,” she said. “We want to remind our community that these young folks need our support more than they need our judgment.”

The Place is building The Launchpad Apartments north of the intersection of North 19th and West Uintah streets. New CEO Becky Treece said she will focus on bringing the project to completion in upcoming months. The 50-unit complex for homeless young adults is scheduled to open in November. 

Debbie Kelley, The Gazette