Douglas County Homeless Initiative

BOCC Hearing Room, Conference Rooms A & B

Agenda — 10 items

1. 1. Welcome & Introductions: Commissioner Laydon
2. 1 In - Person Attendees: Commissioner Abe Laydon, Alyssa DeJesus, Andrea Barnum, Blake Davis, Breanna Doran, Brian Briggs, Brian Hunsley, Caroline Frizell, Carrie Abromowitz, Erin White, Greg Matthews, Jaime Fisher, Jason Gray, Jeff Garcia, Jennifer Eby, Jill Duffy, Luke Ward, Maria Ciano, Nick Hassman, Rand Clark, Ruby Richards, San Castillo Jones, Steven Dodrill, Tiffany Marsitto, Valerie Brewster Online Participants: 26 (list is available upon request)
3. 2. HEART: Tiffany Marsitto, Community Services Supervisor: The June 2026 HEART activity summary includes 14 new clients enrolled in the HEART program, 260 total referrals, 15 clients exited the program with 20% going to permanent housing. HEART received three panhandling calls for the month of June. There were zero encampments for the month of June. The HEART line received 35 total phone calls from the public, 55 incoming text messages, and 21 text conversations. HEART had 10 business engagements and participated in Crisis Intervention Training. The June By Name List (BNL) data showed a total of 38 unhoused. Of those 38 people, 13 were sheltered, 22 were sleeping in vehicles, and three single people were sleeping outside. In June of 2025, there were 26 enrollments to the HEART program; in May of 2026, there were 20 enrollments and in June of 2026, there were 14 enrollments. In June of 2025 HEART provided 150 services, in May of 2026 HEART provided 190 services, and in June of 2026 HEART provided 215 services. In June of 2025 there were 48 households served, in May of 2026 there were 38 households served, and in June of 2026 there were 33 households served. HEART received 260 referrals in June 2026. The referrals received by location include Highlands Ranch at 43%, Castle Rock at 29%, Parker at 12%, Lone Tree at 11%, Castle Pines at 2%, and Meridian at 3%. Of the 15 clients who exited the program during the month, 20% successfully transitioned to permanent housing, 13% exited to transitional housing, 47% exited to emergency shelter, 13% could not be located, and 7% wished to remain homeless outside the County. HEART Success story for June: A woman contacted the HEART hotline after her family informed her, she could no longer stay in their home. HEART Navigators worked alongside her to identify a sustainable plan that aligned with her long‑term goals. Through this process, she applied to an affordable housing community in Austin, Texas, and was ultimately accepted. While she awaited her move‑in date, a nonprofit organization in Parker provided a limited number of hotel vouchers to ensure she had safe temporary lodging. HEART then coordinated the purchase of a bus ticket so she could travel to Texas. Additionally, a nonprofit based in Castle Rock contributed funding toward the cost of a moving truck, allowing her to transport her belongings to her new apartment. Once she arrived in Austin, she connected with local organizations that assisted with her security deposit and first month’s rent. Although she was initially hesitant to accept support, she later shared how proud she was for reaching out and allowing partner agencies to help her move forward. She is now thriving in her new community and is actively focusing on completing her online master’s program.
4. 3. Specialty Courts: Valerie Brewster, Senior Assistant County Attorney: The 23rd Judicial Specialty Courts strikes a balance between community safety and addressing the whole person for all populations who are already in the justice system or are there through unavoidable circumstances. All Specialty Court programs aim to address the underlying root causes. The Specialty Courts include a Wellness Court, a Recovery Court, a Sobriety Court and a Veterans Treatment Court. The Wellness and Recovery Courts have similar case by case review processes, plea extensions, and four program stages to complete. Wellness Court participants have been charged with a felony and an Axis 1 mental health diagnosis. The Recovery Court addresses criminal offenders with diagnosed substance dependence. The Sobriety Court has just recently been instituted in the 23rd Specialty Courts programs and is dedicated solely to felony DUI and DWAI’s. The Veteran’s Treatment Court participants are prioritized to repeat felony offenders. Participants must have served in the armed forces and determined to have a service-related Axis 1 diagnosis. Veteran’s Treatment Court has two tracks, the VTC track is for felony, high risk and high repeat offenders and the VSC track is for misdemeanor offenses with low recidivism. A unique component to Veterans Court is the peer mentor aspect to assist Veteran’s reintegration after their service. Sex offenders are excluded from all the Specialty Court programs. Lastly, the 23rd and community partners are working diligently to launch the Competency Court towards the end of August 2026. The Competency Court will be for felony level offenders who have had competency raised in their case, either by attorneys or judges. A Diversion Competency Court will also be made available to misdemeanor offenses.
5. 4. Manna Program Update: Erin White, Executive Director, Manna Resource Center: The mission of Manna Resource Center (MRC) is to walk alongside neighbors to foster transformation and empowerment through holistic programs, community, and collaborative partnerships. The four visions of MRC are to see cycles broken, lives transformed, families strengthened, and communities impacted. The four core programs of MRC are Coaching and Connection, Education, Wellness, and Community. Through the Education program MRC is launching the Fatherhood Initiative, Nurturing Fathers Program with nurturing and parenting skills on September 1st. Twice a year, MRC offers an empowerment cohort that focuses on life skill advancement. Last year MRC hosted three graduations with a total of 25 people. Graduates increased their income by 93% and increased self-sufficiency scores by 23%. Each change in their scores is a marked step towards goals like housing, employment and transportation and each graduate accomplished 79% of their goals. Through the MRC program seven out of the nine people who were experiencing homelessness were housed by the time they graduated. MRC and Manna Cares Food Pantry hope to occupy a new building on the Cherry Hills Community Church campus by the end of 2026.
6. 5. LINK Update: Rand Clark, Assistant Director of Community Services: Link on Demand (Link) originated in Lone Tree about 10 years ago. In 2025, Link expanded into Highlands Ranch and provided over 120,000 trips. Three months ago, Link expanded into Parker. The Board of County Commissioners will be presented with a contract to expand LINK into Castle Rock on Tuesday of next week. The Castle Rock Link will connect to the park n ride in Castle Pines and allow passengers to connect to the rest of the Link transit systems. Future plans for LINK include a grant application to RTD for funding to expand Link into unincorporated areas south of Parker.
7. 6. Executive Committee Member Updates: Andrea Barnum, A/D Works!: On June 27th there were 500 people and 25 vendors to the Air and Space Palooza at the Wings Over the Rockies at Centennial Airport. Presentations were given by NASA and the Colorado Workforce Development Council. Three teachers, from Thunder Ridge High School and STEM High School, graduated from the Business Roundtable Teacher Externship Program. Through this two-week immersive program they learned about aerospace companies, future technologies, and career pathways in Metro Denver. Lastly, two new TANF participants start internships in June. One will be with a digital marketing firm and one with Arapahoe County Veteran Services program.
8. 7. Public Comment: None
9. 8. Closing Comments
10. 9 **The Next Regular Meeting Will be Held on Thursday, September 10, 2026, @ 9:00 a.m**