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2020 Annual Report

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” The pandemic created challenge and demanded transformational change, from serving the isolation center for the homeless to crisis mental health needs. Envida is grateful for funder and donor support to redefine what access means, and we emerged from the crisis stronger and more effective than before; we improved connecting people to community and services they need with a dedicated and compassionate staff. –Gail Nehls, CEO

Finding the best of times

Transportation

When the community needed us, we were ready. Our vehicles now travel throughout all of El Paso and Teller counties and to outlying areas for physical and mental health needs and more.

Expanded transit hours

Our fleet now operates 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Other hours available upon request.

More medical and service providers

Through critical care networks in El Paso, Teller, and Park counties, Envida has made connections with 82 care providers to address transportation needs.

Behavioral health rides

As the prevalence of anxiety, depressive, and substance use disorders increased during the pandemic, Envida supported the growth in demand with 1,852 rides, connecting people to behavioral health providers and substance use treatment.

Regional impact

As Envida expanded its reach to Teller and Park counties, we occasionally drove the entire Front Range for people to access critical services.

Partner collaboration

Envida led establishing a regional specialized transit network with Silver Key Senior Services and Fountain Valley Senior Center to integrate services for greater efficiency. The partners merged databases and developed procedures to share trip requests, allowing partners to schedule rides for one another.

Mobility on demand

Due to urgent behavioral health, medical, homeless, and hospital discharge needs, the pandemic changed our service model. We now schedule and complete 30 percent of all rides in 1 to 48 hours.

New call center

As 2020 drew to a close, Envida established a joint call and dispatch system with Silver Key and Fountain Valley that improved seamless ride requests and scheduling for riders, resulting in fewer ride denials and increased usage of vehicle capacity for all three nonprofits.

“I have worked for a number of agencies, and this is the best one I have ever worked for. You guys are amazing. I appreciate you so much.”
Shandall, Attendant
(Pictured with her client, Alphus)
FINDING THE BEST OF TIMES​

Homecare

COVID-19 hit assisted living and group living facilities especially hard, which meant Envida’s mission to promote independent living was critical. The safest place to be during the pandemic was at home, and Envida staff showed resolve and determination in facing the need to provide dependable, reliable, and compassionate care at home.

Client demand

As the pandemic spread and care facilities kept residents in lockdown, demand for in-home services grew, particularly in Park and Teller Counties.

Public Health Emergency (PHE)

As the number of non-family member caregivers declined, Health Care Policy & Finance allowed family members under HCBS to provide homemaker services, and envida educated clients and attendants about hygiene and safety precautions.

Electronic Visit Verification

Homecare attendants transitioned to a new, more accountable technology for recording care hours.

Home Visits

For much of 2020 the state waived requirements for in-person visits in order to keep clients and staff healthy and safe. Envida resumed meeting with homecare clients and attendants for critical assessments as restrictions eased.

Homeless Isolation Shelter

Envida has been the sole transit agency to work with the city’s public-private effort to transport symptomatic or COVID-positive homeless to a safe place for care. To date, Envida has transported 393 people to care.

Envida driver Jim Guggenbiller was interviewed by Fox 21 to highlight Envida’s efforts to support the City’s Homeless Isolation Center.
PRESS

Envida in the news

Envida’s extraordinary efforts during the pandemic to meet challenging community needs for transportation put us in the spotlight. Check out our conference engagements and news coverage at here and on Facebook and Twitter. See highlights below:

  • Expanded service to Eastern El Paso County—Ranchland News, Jan. 23, 2020
  • FTA panel on Accelerating Innovative Mobility—Southwest Transit Association, Feb. 23, 2020
  • Envida’s busses are Safe to Ride—Colorado Springs Gazette and Cheyenne Edition, May 11, 2020
  • Mobility for All—Colorado Association of Transit Agencies, Sept. 3, 2020
  • Envida Gives Rides for Mental Health—Fox 21, Sept. 14, 2020
  • Local Agency Offers Rides and Homecare to Those in Mental Crisis—KOAA, Sept. 22, 2020
  • Serving the Public in Times of Crisis—Northeast Conference on Public Administration, Nov. 5, 2020
  • Do the Right Thing Award—The ARC, November 2020
FINANCIALS

Get the numbers

Our people are our biggest investment. Their dedication to mission and the people we serve are at the heart of our transportation and homecare.

VIEW FINANCIALS
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SAFE TO RIDE: A letter from our Executive Director

The COVID-19 virus has impacted everyone. Here at envida, we have remained open as an essential transportation and homecare business, supporting our governor’s “stay at home” order and now “safer at home.” As restrictions begin to lift, we are taking every precaution to ensure our clients and riders are safe. Most importantly, we want to communicate to our riders that it is SAFE to RIDE.

Our drivers wear gloves and masks, and we request that riders have masks or scarves. We have installed antimicrobial film on interior bus surfaces that require a high degree of hygiene. We disinfect vehicles after each rider, and we will open windows for fresh air, weather permitting. We have expanded service hours to meet riders’ needs: We are open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Our rural routes along U.S. Highway 24 and S.H. 94 have re-opened; the Calhan route operates Monday through Thursday, and the Ellicott/Yoder route operates Wednesdays and Fridays. We have also begun serving Teller County to help those with medical and behavioral health needs access healthcare providers in Colorado Springs.

For information about our transportation services, questions, or updates, please visit our transportation pages at www.envidacares.org or call our transit line at 719-633-4677.

Additionally, for our home care clients, we offer telehealth visits and our homecare attendants have been well versed on how to keep themselves and clients safe. For more information on telehealth visits, please call 719-301-6870.

We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will continue to take actions necessary to keep our clients, riders, staff and community safe and healthy. Any further updates will be posted here or you can call us at 719-633-4601. envida cares.