Weld County

Homelessness had long been a harsh reality for Bethany, her son, Aiden and her mother, Julie. Before the three of them arrived at Samaritan House Greeley, they lived at two Catholic Charities’ shelters in Denver. Bethany and Aiden first lived at Marisol Homes, a safe spot for women and young children in the Denver metro area and then, in a desire to reunite with Julie, were connected to Samaritan House Denver where the three of them lived together in family housing.

Statistics show that the longer a child experiences homelessness before reaching 18, the more likely they are to struggle with homelessness as an adult. This reality – and the desire to build a better future for Aiden – led Bethany and Julie directly to Samaritan House Greeley.

There, they were able to enter the shelter’s unique Extended Stay Program. Their case manager Cindy Powers dug into the root cause of their homelessness. For the two women, their lack of steady employment meant they had no stable place to call home. Cindy discovered that their rocky past and constant couch surfing left them feeling disheartened and frustrated, discouraged and unable to find or keep employment.

Cindy connected them with a local community partner, North Range Behavioral Health, which provided counseling sessions for the entire family. They worked individually and together to encourage one another to be the best version of themselves. They began to see themselves in a positive light for the first time and they began to have hope for what their lives could be.

With this new outlook on life, they imagined a brighter future: a home with their own beds, clothes in their closets and evenings gathered around a table with freshly baked cookies – Aiden’s favorite daydream. With each new paycheck, they watched their bank accounts grow and could feel their dreams becoming reality.

Once the time came to look for apartments, the family knew their hard work was paying off. They could practically smell the chocolate chip cookies as they saw their new lives unfold. Cindy found an apartment that was the perfect fit for the family and, before they knew it, move-in day arrived.

They set up new furniture and Bethany reported that the first night in their new home was “the best night of sleep she’s had in a long time.” Even though they’ve left Samaritan House Greeley, Cindy continues to work with the family. Their primary goals now are to remain stable long-term, keep their jobs and – someday – move into an even bigger place. Above all, Cindy – and the mother and grandmother who love him – are thrilled to see the long history of homelessness broken for little Aiden.

Ricky Johnson is a remarkable Catholic Charities volunteer who is driven by a “pay it forward” philosophy that begins with love and leads to real change for countless people. As the founder of Kingdom Cuts, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to changing the world one haircut at a time, Ricky’s mission is to serve the community through the heart and eyes of God, spreading His love and message of hope through his services.

In August, Ricky was a special guest at one of our Catholic Charities Kinship meetings in Weld County. Our Kinship program provides support and resources to grandparents, relatives or family friends who are raising children in the absence of the children’s parents. The program offers guidance, access to legal resources, financial assistance and emotional support, helping kinship caregivers navigate the challenges of raising children, while promoting family stability and well-being.

Our programs are always looking for ways to ease the burdens on these families and touch their lives in big and small ways. Ricky’s visit had a simple, yet profound impact.

Ricky believes “a haircut may not change your life, but GOD can.” His God-led approach honors the dignity of everyone who sits in his chair. In one afternoon, Ricky spent time with over a dozen children from the Kinship program, taking care to give them each the attention they deserved. Each haircut took 30-45 minutes and met each child’s wishes – some wanted a fresh new fade or a clean cut to show off their bright smiles. Ricky’s positivity and encouragement had the group bursting with energy, hyping one another up after their turn in the chair. He brought a renewed sense of comradery through his cuts. For many of us, a haircut is such a normal or even a mundane part of life, but, for these beautiful families, time spent getting these kiddos ready to head back to school with a brand new haircut made a world of difference.

Kingdom Cuts was founded from Ricky’s dream of using his skills to make a difference. The non-profit came from humble beginnings. At first, Ricky was traveling with his barber kit and a camp chair in his car and would spend time with anyone that seemed they needed a haircut or time with a friend. Later, he was able to obtain a van that was converted into a mobile barbershop that he takes directly to the communities he serves.

The children in our Kinship programs often bear the weight of difficult circumstances and find solace and confidence through small acts of kindness. In attending a Kinship meeting and offering haircuts, Ricky helped each of these children feel valued and cared for.

Through his generous spirit and unwavering commitment, Ricky Johnson has become more than a barber; he has become a light for others, showing that even the smallest acts of kindness can transform the lives of others.