PorchLight

“A Family Justice Center”
Brings together essential services for victims, survivors, and their children to create a positive pathway forward and foster public safety

Executive Director

Volunteer Opportunities

Additional Information

Mission & Overview

PorchLight was founded in 2021 as a Family Justice Center, a best practice model nationally recognized as highly effective in the field of domestic violence. Founder and Executive Director, Candace Cooledge worked with the 1 st Judicial District Attorney’s Office and dozens of other partner agencies to open PorchLight. This model supports trauma victims and their children by eliminating barriers for them to escape abusive relationships, get professional help, and create a new pathway in their lives. PorchLight’s mission is “to bring together essential services for victims, survivors, and their children to create a positive pathway forward and to foster health and public safety.”

PorchLight is one of three Family Justice Centers in Colorado and the only one serving all categories of victims. Because of its broad and collaborative model, PorchLight receives referrals from other agencies.

Who They Serve

PorchLight’s door is open to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, crimes against children, elder abuse, abuse of intellectually and developmentally at-risk individuals, and human trafficking. Located in Lakewood, guests come from the greater Denver Metro area. Two navigators are bilingual in English and Spanish, and additional language accessibility services are available on site. In just 5 years, PorchLight has had over 19,000 visits to the Center. In 2025 alone, PorchLight recorded 4,629 visits, provided navigation services to 1,342 individuals, and supported 871 childcare visits. The number of “guests” they help grows year after year.

What Needs They Address and Why Now

Rates of violence and victimization continue to rise, while public funding sources are becoming increasingly uncertain. Without PorchLight’s coordinated model, survivors would travel over 174 miles to 8-10 different agencies. PorchLight provides needed services under one roof. Essential services include 20 professional partner agencies and trained navigators who determine the survivor’s needs: law enforcement (criminal complaints, arrests), legal support (restraining orders, custody paperwork, divorce proceedings, courtroom preparation), medical assistance (forensic evidence, wound care), mental health, childcare, shelter connections, pet care and even a hair salon – all at no cost. Three trained navigators help coordinate services, safety plans, and directly connect individuals with the support they need. Porchlight’s facility is designed intentionally to calm trauma victims and create a sense of safety. Their special sensory room comforts neurodivergent guests, calming and nurturing them through multi-faceted lighting, soothing music, and soft, comfortable furnishings.

The Impact of Funding

PorchLight’s most urgent funding need is support for staffing costs in response to rising demand and declining federal support. The organization’s 11-person staff team is central to its ability to provide coordinated trauma-informed care. The Grant from Impact 100 would help sustain critical services and maintain the full-service model that allows survivors to access comprehensive support in one location.

Overview of Results & Impact

Colorado’s homicide rate has decreased, but homicides of abuse victims have increased by 24%. PorchLight’s model has reduced that fatality rate by 40% in its geographic area. Generally, it takes 2 years for a “guest” to no longer need PorchLight’s services. Then they can support their families, have a stable and safe environment and be self-sufficient. Success is measured through on-going survivor feedback and long-term outcomes. Guests complete a survey at in-take, then again at 6 months, one year, and two years to assess changes in safety, stability and hope. During exit interviews, survivors report powerful transformations: 96% rate their experience as excellent and 92% feel more hopeful. Hope is the strongest known predictor of long-term healing after trauma. PorchLight evaluates impact through real-time feedback, long-term tracking and collaborative learning with community partners.

Summary

The gap between rising demand and diminishing public funding makes philanthropic investment more urgent than ever. Funding for essential victim services is shrinking. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), a federal frontline assistance program, has been cut substantially. Colorado faces projected VOCA reductions of 40-50%. PorchLight’s coordinated model is not optional; it is essential. A grant from Impact 100 would help sustain critical, life-changing services for survivors and their children while ensuring that families in crisis continue to have a safe place to turn to for help, healing and hope.