To tackle the issue of homelessness, Homeward Alliance (HWA), alongside Larimer County and various nonprofits, has launched a new initiative aimed at aiding unhoused individuals and families within the community. With Larimer County stepping up as a strong supporter, the plan is set to draw on a broad spectrum of expertise and resources to address a problem that continues to pose a critical challenge for the region.
The forming of a committee in 2023 saw Larimer County staff and United Way join forces with key players like the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care and representatives from Loveland, Fort Collins, and Estes Park, as reported byLarimer County. The group, recognizing the merit in each city’s existing plans to combat homelessness, set its sights on strengthening regional collaboration to better share resources, maintain service continuity, and synchronize data collection efforts.
The County’s contributions to the initiative include in-kind resources that are helping to secure necessary grant funding, highlighting its commitment to fostering local projects and collaborative efforts. “As a community, we share both a responsibility and an opportunity to effectively address homelessness with empathy, collaboration, and action,” said John Kefalas, Chair of the Larimer Board of County Commissioners, as perLarimer County. He stressed the importance of acknowledging the unique stories behind each homeless experience while optimizing community resources.
Funding provided by the State of Colorado enabled HWA to carry this strategic plan forward. JG Research & Evaluation and OMNI Institute have been brought on board through the County’s procurement process; this pair of consulting firms will work in tandem to flesh out a final plan by September 2025. “The need for regional collaboration is made even more pressing given significant changes in the local homelessness response system, spurred by COVID-19 relief funding,” David Rout, HWA Executive Director, emphasized the urgency, as obtained byLarimer County. With temporary pandemic-era funds drying up, developing a sustainable plan is more crucial than ever.
Including interviews, focus groups, and surveys, the planning process seeks to be inclusive and intends to involve a wide variety of stakeholders. These range from nonprofit agencies to government officials, to those directly affected by homelessness, ensuring that the community’s diverse needs are both understood and reflected in the resulting plan. While spearheaded by Homeward Alliance, the initiative benefits from a sense of shared responsibility among all partners, aiming to leverage local government engagement and community-based solutions to generate lasting and meaningful change for the unhoused population in Larimer County.
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