Lutheran Hospital is part of a metro Denver partnership helping local residents remain safely in the place many love most: their home.
Through an annual grant from Intermountain Health’s metro Denver hospitals, Lutheran Hospital supports Brothers Redevelopment, Inc., a housing stability nonprofit that works at the intersection of health and housing.
For 55 years, Brothers Redevelopment has helped Coloradans navigate housing challenges, now serving more than 40,000 people each year through programs that include housing assistance, affordable housing, repairs, accessibility modifications and Colorado Housing Connects, a statewide housing helpline.
For Lutheran and its community partners, the connection is clear: where people live directly affects their ability to heal, stay independent and maintain their quality of life.
Brothers Redevelopment’s Home Modification and Repair program focuses on low-income homeowners, people who are age 60 and older, or those living with a disability, offering critical repairs and accessibility upgrades at no cost to qualifying clients.
That work can be as urgent as restoring heat during a Colorado winter or as life changing as installing a ramp, stair rail, stairlift, grab bars or a safer shower. Brothers Redevelopment works with staff repair professionals and licensed, vetted subcontractors to ensure clients receive safe, high-quality repairs. The goal is to reduce fall risk, prevent premature displacement, and help people continue living in homes that are meaningful to them.
“It’s one of the most impactful services when it comes to health,” said Shayna Wible, Brothers Redevelopment director of development. “We step in to bridge that barrier so people can continue to age in place safely.”
For Ilene Beard and her husband, Tom, that support has made a profound difference.
Ilene’s health challenges began nearly 24 years ago after a medical accident during a routine surgery left her with severe nerve damage. Everyday parts of life like walking up and down stairs, safely entering her home or accessing the freezer in the garage became difficult and, at times, frightening.
With support from Brothers Redevelopment and financial support from Lutheran, the Beards received repairs and modifications designed to make their home safer and easier to navigate. Since 2021, they have received plumbing repairs, grab bars, railings, a stairlift, lift recliners, shower expansion, and other modifications. A new step at the front entrance was especially meaningful.
The couple also enrolled in Brothers Redevelopment’s CAPABLE Program, which combines minor home repairs and modifications with in-home visits from an occupational therapist, registered nurse and maintenance technician. Over several months, participants set their own goals and receive support to improve mobility, function and independence. Ilene wanted to get out of the house and walk more in her neighborhood. Tom focused on rebuilding strength after an illness left him extremely frail.
Today, Ilene has returned to church and enrolled in a bible class, while Tom is gaining strength through his work with the CAPABLE team. Most importantly, the couple can remain in the home they love and not be faced with having to go to assisted living.
“Stories like Ilene’s are why we value partnerships with organizations like Brothers Redevelopment,” said Chuck Ault, Intermountain Health Community Health program manager. “Both organizations see health and housing as deeply connected and partnerships help ensure community members can access support before housing barriers become health crises.”
These partnerships also create opportunities for mutual learning. Brothers Redevelopment can share what it is seeing in the housing landscape, while health partners can provide insight into the needs of patients, caregivers and community members. Together, that knowledge strengthens the connection between safe housing and better health outcomes.
“We want people to know that anybody can come to us no matter what,” Wible said. “It’s not just patients.”
For Lutheran Hospital, the partnership reflects a broader commitment to caring for the whole person — not only within hospital walls, but throughout the community. By supporting organizations like Brothers Redevelopment, Lutheran helps remove barriers that can stand between people and their ability to recover, remain independent and live safely at home.
As Colorado’s population ages and housing costs continue to strain families, that work is more important than ever. For people like Ilene and Tom, a repair or modification is more than a construction project; it is security, independence and the chance to keep building a future in the place they call home.
For more information, visit Home – Brothers Redevelopment.
