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, Allison Cutting, Alyssa DeJesus, Andrea Barnum, Caroline Frizell, Dan Marlow, Darren Weekly, Erin White, Greg Matthews, Jason Gray, Jennifer Eby, Kirsten Swanson, Laura Ciancone, Luke Ward, Maria Ciano, Melody D’Haillecourt, Mike McIntosh, Mike Polhemus, Nick Adamson, Rand Clark, Ruby Richards, Sasha Easton, Scott Nelson, Stephanie Dorrell, Steven Dodrill Online Participants: 17 (list is available upon request)
3. 2. Communications Update: Caroline Frizzel, Director, Communications and Public Affairs: The 2025 goals to increase business engagement with HEART and to raise $5,000 worth of donations through the Douglas Has HEART campaign have been achieved and exceeded. To date, $6,135 of donations have been received. The Homeless Initiative webpage has been updated to include friendlier links to the Douglas County Homeless Initiative (DCHI) Committee Meeting, HEART success stories, and a news hub for all 2025 stories. The number of people accessing the site increased significantly after the website upgrade. Through the third quarter of 2025, The Homeless Initiative “Get Help” tab received 2,813 views, with 1,782 active users, at 50.64 seconds average engagement time per active user, and 1.6 views per active user. The Homeless Initiative “Get Involved” received 951 views, with 672 active users, at 30.35 seconds average engagement time per active user, and 1.4 views per active user. HEART social media data shows 12 posts to Nextdoor with 52,799 impressions, 49 posts to Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram with 176,476 impressions. The HEART Email campaigns have an above average open rate of 57%. In February 2026, we are partnering with the Economic Development Chamber (EDC) and Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) to launch the February fund raising campaign to at least 30 businesses to sell “HEARTS” to patrons. The goals include raising an additional $5,000, having at least three businesses sponsor the campaign, achieving 10,000 unique donations, and increasing visibility for DCHI and HEART.
4. 3. Launch of Regional Navigation Campus: Jim Goebelbecker, Executive Director, Advance Pathways: The Aurora Regional Navigation Campus (ARNC) had the ribbon cutting on November 6th with Governor Polis and other members of the community. The ARNC also hosted an open house event to all community members on November 12th where staff offered tours and additional information about the campus. ARNC is officially open on Monday, November 17th for adults 18 and over. The Advance Pathway’s tiered program is modeled after the Colorado Spring’s Rescue Mission with security, structure, and accountability. The three-tier program model includes 285 cots in Tier One and 114 beds in Tier Two. Tier Three, which will be fully completed by December 15th, will offer 10 rooms located on the first floor, ready for immediate use. Over 20 community partners will be accessible in the Day Center to provide services including workforce development training, mental and physical health services, dental care, case management, housing navigation, and more. The ARNC has made four training rooms and four offices available on their campus for use as meeting spaces by community partners. Additional amenities include surveillance cameras, a commercial kitchen, onsite pet kenneling, and onsite laundry facilities. There will be a total of 20 respite rooms available in 2026, where self-ambulatory people can recover for up to 30 days and will be in partnership with UCHealth Hospitals.
5. 4. Douglas County Domestic Violence Safehouse: Kamri Allshouse, Program Manager, TESSA: The Douglas County Safehouse had its grand opening in late August. They have served eight clients: four domestic violence clients, two human trafficking clients, and two sexual assault clients. Douglas County community partners include HEART, UCHealth Hospitals, Department of Human Services, Douglas County School District, Help and Hope, Catholic Charities, Covered Colorado, From Silenced to Saved, Bad Moms of Parker, and many more. TESSA is in the early stages of meeting the long-term needs of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors including clinical and legal services for the entire community. Referrals from community partners can be made via the Safeline phone number, which is a 24/7 (including holidays) hotline number, at 303-535-3917. The Douglas County Safehouse is still accepting donations for wall art, household decorations, holiday decorations, gently used clothing, and brand-new undergarment and sock donations.
6. 5. Executive Committee Member Updates: Jason Gray, Mayor of Castle Rock: two encampment clean ups were completed in September. Sasha Easton, Workforce Director and Division Manager, A/D Works!: Colorado Apprenticeship Hub are releasing $3,000,000 in apprenticeship incentive grants to businesses. Maximum grant awarded will be $150,000 and the application window is through November 30th. Please see website for more details. A/D Works! hired Donté Young for the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP). The HVRP program re-integrates Veterans to the community from correctional facilities. The Adult Education grant from the State has allowed A/D Works! to broaden their existing GED program by offering a curriculum in a classroom setting. A/D Works! completed the MOU with Advance Pathways to provide services for ARNC. Erin White, Executive Director, Manna Resource Center: Shared a text message from a recent graduate of the Manna Resource Center Program and the GOALS Program who was appreciative of the help received. Laura Hefta, Councilmember, Parker: Parker has seen a visible reduction in homelessness in its community. The need for food donations has doubled with the government shutdown. Please consider donating to local food banks including SECOR Cares and Parker Task Force. Dan Marlow, Executive Director, Help and Hope: Help and Hope has also experienced increased food demand with a shortage of protein items. Donating cash is a better way to help meet the demand of purchasing protein items. Kirsten Swanson, Executive Director, Douglas County Community Foundation: Kirsten coordinates the Buckley Air Force food pantry which also serves Douglas County residents. Thank you to Help and Hope and SECOR for their food assistance, in the way of cash donations, to help meet the demand for 200 military families.
7. 6. HEART Update: Tiffany Marsitto, Community Services Supervisor: October HEART activity summary includes 32 new clients enrolled in the HEART program, 321 total referrals, 50 clients exited the program with 26% going to permanent housing. HEART received 13 panhandling calls for the month of October, three were homeless, non-Douglas County, seven were not homeless, and three were unable to be located. There were zero encampments for the month of October. The HEART line received 37 total phone calls from the public, 67 incoming text messages, and 19 text conversations. HEART activities that were completed for the month of October included 16 business engagements. HEART attended the Cherry Hills Community Church Presentation, the MDHI CoC Stakeholder Meeting, the MDHI Local Built for Zero Learning Session, and picked up a donation from the Douglas County High School Dance Team. The October By Name List (BNL) data showed a total of 73 unhoused. Of those 73 people, 35 were sheltered, 30 were sleeping in vehicles, and eight single people were sleeping outside. In October of 2024, there were 38 enrollments to the HEART program; in September of 2025, there were 29 enrollments and in October of 2025, there were 32 enrollments. In October of 2025, there were 52 households that received one or more services in the HEART program. HEART completed a total of 321 referrals for service for the month of October 2025. The services provided by location included Highlands Ranch 43%, Castle Rock 19%, Parker 12%, Lone Tree 13%, Castle Pines 4%, and Englewood 9%. Of the 50 clients that exited the program, 26% successfully transitioned to permanent housing, 8% moved into temporary housing, 28% exited to emergency shelter, 30% could not be located, and 8% wished to remain homeless outside the County. October’s HEART success story comes from HEART Navigator Alyssa DeJesus. During the Summer Point-in-Time Count in July 2025, HEART Navigators met a woman and her dog who had been living in her vehicle for years. Despite her difficult circumstances, she remained optimistic and determined to find stability. The team learned she was a veteran who had not yet been connected to regional resources for housing support. HEART Navigator Alyssa DeJesus referred her to Rocky Mountain Human Services, where she was quickly connected with a case manager. With guidance and encouragement, she began the process of applying for a housing voucher while working diligently to provide all necessary documentation. In October, she was approved for a HUD-VASH voucher, and on November 4, 2025, she signed the lease for her new apartment. After months of uncertainty, she and her dog finally have a safe and stable home. She continues to work closely with her case manager to maintain her housing and build a foundation for long-term stability. Her story is a testament to resilience, teamwork, and connection.
8. 7. Public Comment
9. 8. Closing Comments: Commissioner Laydon
10. 9 **The Next Regular Meeting Will be Held on Thursday, January 8, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m**