As Colorado continues to grapple with high rates of suicide and gun violence, Estes Valley Crisis Advocates remains a cornerstone of support for residents facing trauma, loss, and violence. Despite recent federal funding cuts, the organization is determined to maintain its 24/7 crisis response and advocacy services, even as staff face reduced hours and an increasing demand to meet community needs.
“Due to our large federal funding cuts, all staff will be working reduced hours,” said Diana Brown, Executive Director of EVCA. “We will continue to have 24/7 response with law enforcement in the Estes Valley, as well as our 24-hour hotline. It will impact our staff availability during office hours, but we will still see everyone; it just may take longer to get appointments.”
The organization will host its annual Soup Supper Fundraiser, catered by The Egg of Estes, on Oct. 9. This event not only supports EVCA’s operating costs but also brings the community together around hope and connection.
“When someone is a victim of a victim rights crime or a survivor of a catastrophic event in the Estes Valley, law enforcement offers the services of a Crisis Advocate,” Brown said.
“We initially co-respond to the scene or to law enforcement offices to accompany the survivor through those first moments or hours. EVCA provides court information, and we host the virtual Larimer County court in our offices, where a victim can attend without needing to go to Fort Collins or Loveland,” Brown told the Estes Valley Voice.
“We bridge the victim to their advocate at the District Attorney’s Office, help them submit paperwork for Victim Compensation or Restitution, and provide appropriate referrals for other resources. We also operate the only 10-bed domestic violence safehouse in the Estes Valley,” said Brown.
While comprehensive data for Estes Valley isn’t available, trends across Colorado and Larimer County show that gun violence remains an ongoing public health issue. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, suicide accounts for 73.6 percent of gun-related deaths statewide as of 2021. Between 2020 and 2023, Colorado reported a higher overall rate of firearm-related deaths than the national average, reflecting a broader trend where access to firearms often intersects with mental health crises.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office reports that violent crime remains low locally, but even isolated incidents can have lasting effects.
Though individual cases in the Estes Valley may be rare, their impact can ripple throughout the community. Each act of gun violence—whether a suicide, domestic dispute, or public tragedy—leaves deep emotional and social scars that organizations like Crisis Advocates work tirelessly to address.
“Help is out there,” Brown emphasized. “Our staff are all trained in QPR — Question, Persuade, Refer — and are available to talk with anyone who is struggling or supporting someone in crisis. We’re ready to support survivors and connect them with the right resources.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
For local support, contact Estes Valley Crisis Advocates at 970-577-9781 or via their text line (not staffed overnight) at 513-970-3822. An after-hours crisis line is also available at 970-586-4000. For crisis counseling, click here to visit SummitStone Health Partners.