DOUGLAS COUNTY HOMELESS INITIATIVE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025

MINUTES

BOCC Hearing Room,

Conference Rooms A & B

Thursday, November 13, 2025

9:00 AM

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)

Welcome & Introductions: Commissioner Laydon

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Public Comment