HEADING HOME

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In 2019, several local governments in Jefferson County, Colorado partnered to conduct a month-long, comprehensive count of individuals experiencing homelessness. The Jefferson County comprehensive count attempted to reach individuals who met the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of literal homelessness and those who lack stable housing. The expanded definition was informed by the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act with the aim to capture the unique characteristics of individuals experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County.

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​Click on image below to read full report. 

What is the Point-in-Time Count (PIT)?

The PIT Count and survey is an unduplicated count of people experiencing literal homelessness on a single night in January. HUD defines literal homelessness as living in places not meant for habitation, shelter, and some transitional housing programs. Persons at risk of becoming homeless (such as those staying with friends/family or paying to stay in a motel) are not included in this count.

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Why, when and where is it conducted?

While helping to determine the scope of homelessness, the PIT raises public awareness, promotes collaboration across seven counties, provides needed data, and helps us apply for increased housing funds.  The PIT occurs one one day during the last 10 days in January each year in all 7 counties across the Denver metro Continuum of Care (CoC), including Jefferson.   

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Click here for a full list of County-specific reports and interactive dashboards, compiled by Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI). 

Built for Zero is a rigorous national change effort designed to help a core group of committed US communities end chronic and Veteran homelessness. It is supported in Jeffco through a partnership with VA, Metro Denver Homeless Initiative and Community Solutions. It's a person-centered and data-driven approach, using a By Name List to understand the dynamic nature of homelessness and individual needs. It builds on Veterans as a proof point for improving systems to address all populations experiencing homelessness. Read more about Jeffco's work and how you help get Vets connected to housing and services.

Heading Home is a collaboration of individuals, public service, and faith-based organizations from the community determined to end homelessness in Jefferson County. Heading Home is a subcommittee of Jeffco Connections (JC), whose mission is "to establish a collaborative leadership that promotes accountable, efficient, cost-effective, and coordinated systems, in an effort to increase the health and well-being of children, youth, and families in Jefferson County." JC has charged Heading Home with the task of developing an Action plan that addresses homelessness in Jefferson County.

The vision of Heading Home is to create a systemic response in Jefferson County, Colorado that prevents and ends homelessness whenever possible, and when it cannot be prevented, ensures it is a rare, brief and one-time experience. 

Objectives of the plan include: 

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1. Optimize the Housing Crisis Resolution System

2. Increase Access to and Supply of Supportive

3. Improve System-Wide Data Collection and Data Sharing

4. Increase Community Involvement in Support of Homelessness Solutions

Read Jefferson County 2021-23 Homelessness Action Plan

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This document serves to assess current temporary sheltering options in Jefferson County, review available data to determine specific needs for such options, and identify unmet need. It provides information on best practice and evidence-based approaches to meeting this need. Lastly, we offer a clear set of recommendations to address the unique needs within Jefferson County and concrete recommendations for how leadership can assist in supporting this effort.

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Read Sheltering Gaps Analysis Report Here (3/17/21)

 October 12, 2020 – The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) released its State of Homelessness 2020 report highlighting never before seen data on homelessness in the Denver region.  

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The report, the first of its kind in the state, shows homelessness across multiple sources, including for the first time the data system the region has been working to implement widely with homeless service and housing providers. This data system showed that 31,207 individuals accessed services or housing supports related to homelessness between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Also included in the report is data on individuals being prioritized for housing, a deep dive into the region’s Point in Time (PIT) count which occurred in January, and numbers collected by school districts across the seven-county metro region.  

“For the first time, we have real-time data on how many people are seeking support as a result of homelessness,” said Matt Meyer, Executive Director of MDHI. “While there are variances between data sets, one thing is consistent – racial inequity,” adding, “We need to address this if we want to make meaningful progress on homelessness.”  

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See the full version of the report here. 

National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2021 State of Homelessness Report

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US Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Homeless Assessment Reports

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