For the first time in recent memory, no families were found sleeping outside during this year's point-in-time count in Arapahoe County.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Arapahoe County 's latest point-in-time count shows a 35% drop in unsheltered homelessness compared to last year — and for the first time as far as county leaders can remember, no families were found sleeping outside on the night of the count in January.
“I love the work that we do, and I think sometimes it's hard to use quantitative data to always show the impact, but I know that it makes a difference,” said Julie Hall, program director at HAAT Force, an Englewood nonprofit dedicated to getting unhoused individuals into motel rooms when severe weather strikes. Last year's count found 14 families sleeping outside, all in Aurora. County leaders flagged the number as a major concern. This year, that number fell to zero.
Unsheltered veterans dropped 46% — from 28 to 15. The number of youth found sleeping unsheltered dropped from 21 to 7 — a two-thirds reduction. Local Here's how efforts to reduce homelessness in Arapahoe County are paying off Adria Iraheta Arapahoe County spokesperson Jill McGranahan credited the results to a combination of new resources and regional cooperation.
"I think that what we're seeing is what happens when we collaborate," McGranahan said. Englewood New Bridge House locationhopes to provide solution to Arapahoe Co. homelessness Adria Iraheta McGranahan said the county’s two new regional navigation centers, expanded outreach efforts, and a push to build more affordable housing all contributed to the decline. Last September, Arapahoe County commissioners approved new affordable housing incentives for developers in an effort to bring some relief to the affordable housing crisis.
Local New incentives aim to jumpstart affordable housing in Arapahoe County Adria Iraheta "We know that that is a huge concern for our constituents, and we also know that it's a huge concern for the county, so we will continue to invest, and hopefully we'll continue to see results like this," McGranahan said. Organizations like HAAT Force in Englewood are among those working on the ground to drive those results.
Denver Denver reports decrease in overall homelessness for first time in 9 years Stephanie Butzer Hall, program director for HAAT Force said prevention is a critical piece of keeping families housed.
"I think a big aspect of supporting families is really prevention and making sure people know before they end up losing that housing what kind of rent assistance is out there, getting them that sort of assistance during a crisis," Hall said. She said the goal remains straightforward.
"At the end of the day, we just want to see each person able to move towards something that's more wholesome for them," Hall said. County leaders say continued collaboration between cities and organizations will be key to keeping unsheltered homelessness numbers moving in the right direction. This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos Boulder County considers alternate-use pilot for popular trails, prompting debate BOLDERBoulder 10K: A running coach's tips to train smart and finish strong Should Niwot incorporate? Aurora mayor outlines leaders' priorities at this year's State of the City address Boulder firefighter creates program to help women break into the fire service Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.
Arapahoe County Homelessness Arapahoe County Pit Count Aurora Homelessness Aurora Regional Navigation Center Haat Force Tri Cities Homelessness
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Austin boaters concerned over narrow pass on Lady Bird Lake created by I-35 constructionTxDOT says the 75-foot-wide passage is needed to keep boaters away from construction equipment. Some daily lake users say the setup can be confusing from the water.
Read more »
Kim Kardashian Estimates She ‘Probably’ Takes 35 Supplements a Day: ‘I Have Pill Fatigue’Kim Kardashian reveals her daily wellness routine, which includes taking more than 30 supplements each day
Read more »
Arapahoe County garage fire burns 3 vehicles; no injuries reported, but damage to homeA fire at a garage in Arapahoe County, Colorado caused damage to three vehicles and partially burned a home, but everyone inside evacuated safely. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Read more »
'Dancing with the Stars' casting director teases what's to come in season 35'I'm really excited about what I'm putting together this year.' Deena Katz, casting director and executive producer of 'Dancing with the Stars' reveals where she is in the casting process for season 35, coming to ABC and Disney+ later this year.
Read more »