A transitional housing program in Olathe is at full capacity for the first time since it opened last April. Residents say it's like living in an apartment complex where everyone can relate to their story.

"If it weren't for this place we'd literally be sleeping in a park right now," resident for two weeks, Josh Paz said.

It’s a lot like a college dorm: communal living and sharing a room, but for the residents at the Haven House it beats being on the street.

"We lost our home due to financial circumstances, me losing my job," one month resident Worthy Dennison said.

"Me and my wife and kids were homeless, no place to go,” Paz said. “We heard about this program through the department of Health and Human Services."

"We couldn't pay where we were, which was bad, and my daughter actually had a friend that lived here so I called them and they had us in within a week," resident for four months Summer Vansant said.

Haven house is a new transitional living program in Montrose County. It opened last April and is home to 26 adults and 22 kids. The high demand for housing has the Haven House starting a wait list for the first time.

"It gives us a chance not only to get back on our feet but they also give us the tools and support that we need to interrogate ourselves back into society and become a useful, working part of the community again," Paz said.

"Yesterday as a matter of fact they got us in with shoes for kids,” Vansant said. “My kids haven't had new shoes in two years."

In order to move in, people have to attend orientation, fill out an application and meet with a case manager. And absolutely no drugs or alcohol are allowed.

"For a family that's really important, you can't have that kind of stuff around your kids,” Dennison said.

"Get our feet back on the ground and the sky is the limit,” Paz said. “You got to pick yourself up sometime."

Residents can stay in the program for up to 2 years, and managers say while some will need the entire time to get back on their feet, others will leave after just a few months.

"After this we're actually moving to Minnesota," Vansant said.

"Whatever I can find I really don't care. Carpentry it doesn't really matter, or rough necking it I don't really care," Dennison said.

"We’re very appreciative for what we've gotten," Paz said.

The Haven House is a faith-based organization so it has a lot of churches that help out. And other than that it runs on grants and donations.

If you're interested in making a donation send an e-mail to info@havenhousehomeless.org or call 970-323-5280.