Douglas County Homeless Initiative

BOCC Hearing Room, Conference Rooms A & B

Agenda — 11 items

1. 1. Welcome & Introductions: Commissioner Laydon
2. 1 In - Person Attendees: Andrea Barnum, Benjamin Drake, Dan Makelky, Dan Marlow, Darren Weekly, Diane Roth, Elise Cordle, Ellie Reynolds, Erin White, Jason Gray, Jeff Garcia, Jennifer Eby, Kirk Wilson, Laura Hefta, Melody D’Haillecourt, Michele Porter, Mike Hill, Mike Polhemus, Mike Waid, Phil Domenico, Rand Clark, San Castillo, Scott Nelson, Steven Dodrill, Tiffany Marsitto, Wendy Holmes Online Participants: 25 (list is available upon request)
3. 2. Parker Task Force Check Distribution: Diane Roth, Board Member and Volunteer: Parker Task Force is strictly run by volunteers and has been serving the community for 37 years. The main areas of service include Parker, Franktown and Elizabeth but will serve anyone who visits the Parker Task Force (PTF) and help them find resources that are closer to their locations. PTF is a short-term assistance agency which provides emergency assistance including food, rent, and utility assistance to those who are at risk of homelessness. Success Story: After receiving a referral from HEART, a client who was living in his car but employed part time met with a PTF advocate who helped him come up with a plan to become self-sufficient. The client wanted to thank the advocate that helped them leave with hope.
4. 3. Step 7: • Benjamin Drake, Executive Director: The mission of Step 7 is to see men become Christ-centered, set free from their addictions, and transformed into leaders. Step 7 is a faith based sober living community in Douglas and Elbert counties for men 18 or older. 82% of men that enter this program do not reoffend. • Ben had a 14-year addiction to meth here in Douglas County. He had compounded felonies and was about to receive a 30-year jail sentence. However, the judge gave him an ultimatum to find an approved treatment facility within 48 hours rather than go to jail and that is when Ben connected to Step 7. He has been sober for three and half years. • Michele Porter, Director of Development: Projected to open 10 homes by the end of 2024 and contact Step 7 for a tour of one of their homes.
5. 4. Summer PIT Planning: • Rand Clark, Community Services Manager: This Summer the County is conducting a Point-In-Time (PIT) count on the evening of Monday, July 29th. We are federally required to conduct a yearly Winter PIT count in January. In addition to this count, we have conducted a Summer PIT in July since 2022. Last year’s Summer PIT count results showed a total of 93 people experiencing homelessness, 54 were unsheltered, and 39 were sheltered. The outcomes of the Summer PIT include data analysis to support our efforts to reach Functional Zero by decreasing inflow of those experiencing homelessness while increasing shelter and housing solutions. • On Tuesday, July 30th we will have our semi-annual Strive to Thrive resource fair for those needing assistance. • Ellie Reynolds, CEO Douglas County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC): To help spread the word to local businesses about the PIT count and the continued work of the Homeless Initiative, DCEDC offered to host a panel discussion. The discussion and forum would be developed to help business owners understand the why of the HEART, the Handout’s Don’t Help signs, and no trespass letters and how to access these resources. • Laura Hefta, Parker Councilmember: It is difficult to find the actual business owners to get permission to post signs and complete the no trespass letters. Many of the owners live out of state. • Wendy Holmes, Douglas County Communications: A call to action for our business community is needed because we can do better to help them know where to go for resources. • Jennifer Eby, Community Development: We are in the process of creating a pamphlet of business resources. HEART will distribute pamphlets are they are interacting with the business community. Each HEART team will be the subject matter expert for an assigned geographic area and will be familiar with resources available in their area.
6. 5. HEART: • Tiffany Marsitto, HEART Supervisor: HEART received a total of 191 referrals for the month of May. Of those 191 referrals, 45% were proactive street outreach by HEART, 24% were dispatched by law enforcement, 14% were citizen calls, 8% were public referral forms, and 9% were community partner calls. The call outcomes included 62 individuals contacted by HEART, 8 were not from Douglas County, 14 were not homeless, 12 refused services, four law enforcement actions, 82 no unsheltered person found, and two unoccupied encampments that have been cleaned up. The four highest categories of HEART program enrollments included: two shelter referrals, 22 transport assistance, 66 hotel vouchers, and five referrals to housing support. During the month of May services provided by location include Highlands Ranch 37%, Castle Rock 23%, Parker 17%, Lone Tree 14%, Castle Pines 3%, Englewood 5%, and remaining areas 1%. • Success Story: HEART Navigator, Kim Alvarado, and Sheriff’s Deputy, Brad Schramm, met with a male who was pulled over by law enforcement for expired registration. The male had been living out of his vehicle and applying for jobs to get enough funds for his car registration. Once the client was assessed, it was determined that getting his car registered was the most pressing need, Kim and Deputy Schramm took the client to Department of Motor Vehicle once they identified a faith-based organization that agreed to pay for the registration. After just one week, Kim received a message from the client that he begins employment on June 12th and attributed this success to HEART for helping him register his vehicle.
7. 6. Executive Committee Member Updates: • San Castillo Jones, JBBS Programs Administrator: San introduced herself and said that while this is a new position she has been with the County for 10 years. • Laura Hefta, Parker Councilmember: Coordinated with HEART for encampments clean ups with an HOA and had two people who didn’t want resources.
8. 7. Public Comment: Rich
9. 8. Closing Comments: Commissioner Laydon
10. 9 The Douglas County Homeless Initiative provides a collaborative meeting space for a diverse group of community partners to discuss issues related to homelessness. These meetings are not a forum for discussion of specific land use applications or development projects in individual jurisdictions. Please contact the relevant jurisdiction to inquire about how to participate in the public input process for specific projects.
11. 10 **The Next Regular Meeting Will be Held on Thursday, July 11, 2024 @ 9:00 a.m**