Bringing an end to homelessness
A Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART) “navigator” (left) is paired with a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Here they are engaging with a man in Douglas County experiencing homelessness to ascertain his needs, to assess his vulnerability, to provide complete case management, and to make referrals for him to appropriate community services.
In 2022, the Douglas County Homeless Initiative (DCHI) launched HEART, the Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team, along with the “Handouts Don’t Help” campaign. As of this summer’s measurement, the point-in-time count (PIT) of the unhoused in Douglas County is zero.
HEART is a partnership with the County, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement and community partners to connect those experiencing homelessness with resources, like shelter, job counseling, mental health support and substance abuse treatment. HEART incorporates the Four C’s: compassion, code enforcement, community services and communication to help individuals gain independence and self-reliance through opportunities for reintegration into society.
“It is truly an honor to celebrate the success of the DCHI alongside our nearly 400,000 citizens who counted on us to solve a growing problem,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon, chairman of the DCHI. “Our commitment to reclaiming our public spaces for citizens through the Four C’s has worked.”
HEART employs “navigators,” who are subject matter experts with experience in behavioral and mental health, and pairs them with a law enforcement agent. Together, they interact with those experiencing homelessness to ascertain the needs, assess vulnerability, provide complete case management, and make referrals to appropriate community services.
The “Handouts Don’t Help” campaign deployed 70 street signs and the use of other marketing tools across multiple platforms to discourage citizens from handing money out of car windows in the middle of traffic, which is not safe for the giver or the receiver. Citizens listened and are donating directly to the Douglas County Community Foundation’s Homeless Relief Fund (HRF) where 100% of the donations are granted to trusted nonprofits that provide services and supply basic needs to the unhoused. The HRF has received more than $10,000 in donations to date.
“I’m proud of the great work that HEART does every day,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly. “We will continue to be proactive to connect those who need and want services and we will also be proactive in our enforcement of the law.”
For additional information, visit douglas.co.us/homeless-initiative/ or call HEART, 303-660-7301. To donate to the HRF, visit douglas.co.us/homeless-initiative/douglas-has-heart/.
The Douglas County Homeless Initiative’s point-in-time counts from this summer:
- The number of people sleeping outdoors has been reduced from 43 in 2022 to six in 2024.
- There was a 50% reduction in those living in vehicles and sleeping outside since summer 2023.
- Zero panhandlers encountered.
- Zero encampments of more than one individual found.
Information and photo provided by the Douglas County Homeless Initiative
