Navigating health and stability during uncertain times. We see you, we are with you, and this is your trusted guide to the resources you deserve.
Find Help For...
Select an area to find a toolkit with clear, culturally-responsive steps and resources from trusted organizations dedicated to our communities.
Community Health & Equity
Culturally-competent care, advocacy, and community wellness.
Affordable Healthcare
Insurance, clinics, hospital discounts, and prescriptions.
Housing Stability
Rent/mortgage aid, eviction help, and shelters.
Food & Nutrition
Food banks, SNAP benefits, and meal programs.
Employment
Job searches, unemployment help, and training.
Advocacy & Policy
Track laws and make your voice heard on health equity.
From Storm to Safety in 3 Steps
1
Identify Your Need
Use our categories to find your specific area of need.
→
2
Get Your Toolkit
We provide clear instructions and resources from trusted partners.
→
3
Take Action
Connect directly with the organization that can help you the most.
A Coalition of Trust
The Colorado Lighthouse is powered by organizations committed to equity and the well-being of Colorado's communities of color. We are stronger together.
Stay Connected. Stay Empowered.
Join our community to receive timely updates on new resources, policy changes, and community events that matter to you.
Community Health & Equity Toolkit
Connecting with organizations dedicated to our specific communities is essential for culturally competent support, navigation, and advocacy.
Which community resources are you looking for?
➡️ Find Black Health Resources
➡️ Find Latino Health Resources
➡️ Find Indigenous Health Resources
Your Affordable Healthcare Toolkit
It can be scary to worry about your health. We're here to help you find the right care, even when costs are high.
First, what do you need help with today?
💡 Not sure where to start? Try our Benefits Finder.
➡️ I need to find or afford health insurance.
Step 1: Check Connect for Health Colorado First
This is the ONLY place to get financial help to lower your monthly insurance bill (premiums). Don't assume it's too expensive until you check.
A program allowing Coloradans to purchase health insurance regardless of documentation status, with state-funded financial assistance available for some.
Understanding policy is power. This is your guide to tracking laws that affect our community and making your voice heard.
What do you want to do?
➡️ Learn about key issues affecting our community.
BIG ISSUE: Health Insurance Subsidies May Expire
Enhanced federal subsidies (financial help) that make insurance cheaper are set to expire at the end of 2025. If Congress does not act, insurance premiums could rise significantly for many in our community. Advocating for an extension of these subsidies is the single most impactful way to keep healthcare affordable.
➡️ Find organizations that track policy and advocate for us.
➡️ Learn how to make my voice heard.
Step 1: Find Your Legislator
You have local, state, and federal representatives who are elected to listen to you. Find out who they are and how to contact them.
Your personal experience is the most powerful tool for change. Call, email, or meet with your representative to tell them how healthcare costs and access affect you and your family.
Step 3: Vote!
Support local, state, and federal leaders who are committed to health equity and addressing the issues that matter to our community.
Your Housing Stability Toolkit
Worrying about your home is stressful. You are not alone, and there is help available.
What is your biggest concern right now?
💡 Not sure where to start? Try our Benefits Finder.
➡️ I'm worried about being evicted.
Step 1: Know Your Rights.
A landlord must follow specific rules to evict you. They can't just change the locks. Learn the process.
In Colorado, our communities of color face the largest health and economic disparities. When news hits of rising insurance costs or housing instability, we feel it first and hardest. The storm of a health crisis, an eviction notice, or an empty pantry is not just an inconvenience—it's a systemic challenge we know all too well. **We knew we needed a better way, a tool built by us, for us.**
The Blueprint for a Lifeline
We didn't just want to build another website; we wanted to build a lifeline. So, we asked a simple question: "What does *real* help look like online, especially when our community is in a panic?" To answer that, we went on a mission. We studied everything from the design of emergency room signage to the interactive principles of the best educational apps for kids. We explored best practices for social service toolkits, design principles for low-literacy users, and user experience (UX) design in crisis situations.
Our Guiding Principle: The CARE Framework
Our research didn't just give us data; it gave us a philosophy. We finalized a framework that is now built into every pixel of this site. We call it **CARE**.
Clear & Simple
Because when your world is complicated, your next step shouldn't be. We use plain language and focus on one problem at a time.
Action-Oriented
Because hope isn't a brochure; it's knowing exactly what to do next. Every piece of information is tied to a clear, tangible action.
Reassuring & Visual
Because a calm, friendly guide can lower a person's heart rate. We use a reassuring tone and simple icons to build confidence.
Engaging & Interactive
Because helping someone isn't just giving an answer; it's teaching them how to find it, building their resilience for the future.
The Colorado Lighthouse is the result of this deliberate, research-driven process. It's an initiative built not just on good intentions, but on proven principles for effective, dignified help. We have built the foundation and designed the beacon. **With your partnership, we can turn on the light for our communities.**
Join the Coalition of Trust
Your organization is on the front lines, helping Coloradans of color navigate life's most difficult storms. But too often, the people who need you most can't find you. They are lost in a sea of confusing websites and endless phone trees, unsure of where to turn. **The Colorado Lighthouse changes that.**
By joining our coalition, you place your expertise directly on a simple, trusted, statewide platform. You become a beacon. We handle the technology and the promotion; you provide the life-changing guidance. Together, we can ensure no one in our communities feels lost in the storm.
Application to Become a Partner
Fill out the form below to build your digital toolkit. Your application will be submitted to our team for review.
Admin Portal
Review and approve new partner applications.
Loading applications...
Black Health & Community Directory
Find culturally-responsive organizations and professionals dedicated to the wellness of the Black community in Colorado.
Latino Health & Community Directory
Find culturally-responsive organizations and professionals dedicated to the wellness of the Latino community in Colorado.
Indigenous Health & Community Directory
Find culturally-responsive organizations and professionals dedicated to the wellness of Indigenous communities in Colorado.
Understanding Hospital Discounted Care (HDC)
If you have a hospital bill you can't afford, you have rights. Colorado law requires hospitals to provide discounts to eligible patients.
What it is:
A statewide program that provides discounted care at hospitals and emergency rooms for low-income Coloradans.
Do I qualify?
If your household income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you qualify. This applies even if you have insurance but can't afford your deductible or copay.
How to Get It:
If you are UNINSURED: The hospital must screen you for HDC automatically.
If you ARE INSURED: You must REQUEST to be screened for HDC. Tell the billing department, "I would like to be screened for Hospital Discounted Care."
Your Rights for Payment Plans:
If you qualify, the hospital must offer you an affordable, income-based payment plan. For example, your bill could be capped at 4% of your monthly income.