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 h.o.p.e.'s clients come from a variety of backgrounds and include the homeless, people with disabilities, single parents and struggling working families. 41% of the people served are children and 15% of the people served have a disability.
With the economic downturn the demographics of people who visit the pantry are changing. More working families are facing job loss or mounting expenses, which make it difficult to meet their basic needs. As of March 2011, Colorado's unemployment rate was 9.2%
The 2010 poverty rate for a family of 4 with no children under 18 years of age was $22,541, while the figure for a family of 4 with 2 children under 18 was $22,162. The 2011 Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guideline for a family of 4 is $22,350.
An estimated 219,000 Coloradans are "food insecure", meaning they have limited or uncertain access to food.
h.o.p.e. does not require its clients to provide documentation of their income in order to receive food, therefore protecting their dignity. The documentation barrier prevents many families - particularly those seeking food assistance for the first time - from accessing the food they need.
h.o.p.e.'s staff work to tailor their program to the specific needs of their clients, such as special nutritional needs of one member of a household. | 
