HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/31/2023 - Memorandum From Brittany Depew Re: Quarterly Homelessness Updates – Q3 2023
Social Sustainability
222 Laporte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.8055
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 25, 2023
TO: Mayor Arndt and Councilmembers
THRU: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
Jacob Castillo, Chief Sustainability Officer
Beth Yonce, Social Sustainability Department Director
Meaghan Overton, Housing Manager
FROM: Brittany Depew, Homelessness Lead Specialist
CC: Rupa Venkatesh, Assistant City Manager (Executive Sponsor – Homelessness Response)
Jeff Swoboda, Chief of Police (Executive Sponsor – Homelessness Response)
RE: Quarterly Homelessness Updates – Q3 2023
Purpose: The purpose of this informational memo is to provide Council with quarterly homelessness updates.
Bottom Line: Addressing homelessness in Fort Collins is a collaborative, multi-sector effort that involves
dedicated, cross-departmental staff and funding resources from the City, the Northern Colorado Continuum of
Care, nonprofit organizations, and community members to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring.
Ongoing efforts address both short-term, targeted response and long-term, systemic approaches.
SHORT-TERM, TARGETED RESPONSE
Staff and Partner Collaborative Response
Tactical Team
o The Tactical Team, comprised of both internal staff and external partners from Social
Sustainability, Parks, Police, Natural Areas, Code Compliance, Transfort, Poudre Fire Authority,
Northern Colorado Continuum of Care, Outreach Fort Collins, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office,
and Colorado State University Police Department, has now been meeting for one full year! An
event to celebrate this milestone will be held in November.
o The Tactical Team has continued to coordinate and collaborate in complex situations to ensure
people experiencing homelessness are supported and connected to appropriate resources while
maintaining an accessible, healthy, and safe community for all.
o This group aims to: increase consistency in response and process, enhance information sharing
across internal departments and with external partners, prioritize people-centered connection
opportunities (resources, outreach, co-response) ahead of enforcement, and collaboratively
brainstorm possible solutions to ongoing and recurring concerns.
o Over the summer, the Tactical Team began hosting a monthly community hot breakfast for
people experiencing homelessness. A multitude of service providers attend, and attendees are
welcome to connect with them and their resources, if interested, but engagement with providers is
optional.
Homeless Outreach & Proactive Engagement (HOPE)
o Police Services’ HOPE Team, an innovative outreach team that uses problem-oriented policing
strategies to address issues surrounding homelessness within the city, has been very active in
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the community and working closely with multiple partners, including Outreach Fort Collins, Code
Compliance, and Rangers, to respond to complex situations.
o The HOPE Team is working on a bike registration/bike theft prevention program, as many bikes
have been recovered lately at abandoned/unoccupied sites.
o Focused on building strong community relationships through various projects, including a Back to
School Bash with the residents and children at Hickory Village.
o Completed multiple ride-alongs with community partners to collaborate on homelessness
response and strengthen outreach efforts with the unhoused population.
o So far in 2023, the HOPE Team had sent referrals to Outreach Fort Collins for 81 unique
individuals. Of those, 39 were previously unknown to OFC – an incredible example of how
increased coordination has led to positive outcomes for people experiencing homelessness in our
community!
Site Cleanups & Camping Enforcement
Beginning in January 2023, a pilot project launched to conduct cleanups once per week, due to previous
challenges posed by a less frequent, more sporadic cleanup schedule (such as having to re-tag sites and
not being able to keep the number of active camps at a manageable level).
So far in 2023, 1,005 sites have been cleaned, including 716 cleared with assistance from a contracted
cleaning crew, and the remainder completed by Natural Areas staff or other groups (including occupants
at active camps).
Of the sites that were cleaned, there were 1,651 sharps collected, 1,066 total person hours, 590 cubic
yards of general waste (approximately 3,500 bags), 94 cubic yards of metal recycling, and 261 shopping
carts.
There are currently 105 sites awaiting cleanup.
To date, the average cost is $5,940 per cleanup, which generally includes around 21 individual sites.
Approximately $215k has been spent from the site cleanup budget, including $100k to board up an
abandoned home that should be repaid to this budget.
Within the site-tracking app, Field Maps, a new layer has been added to track outreach conducted and
resources offered, and the response team is piloting how/if this data can help better understand site
occupants’ paths out of unsheltered homelessness.
Ongoing conversations are happening regarding inoperable RVs and the towing/dismantling process.
Emergency Weather Shelter Plan
As we head into colder months, the Emergency Weather Shelter Plan (EWSP) will be activated when any
one of the following weather conditions are met:
o The National Weather Service forecasts a severe winter storm warning.
o The National Weather Service forecasts a severe windchill advisory.
o The National Weather Service forecasts overnight temperatures at or below zero degrees
Fahrenheit.
Upon activation, City staff coordinates with shelter and outreach partners to ensure no one is turned away
from shelter, or sleeping outdoors unsheltered, in dangerous weather conditions.
Seasonal Overflow Shelter
Similar to last season, Fort Collins Rescue Mission will be operating an emergency overflow shelter at
117 N. Mason for men experiencing homelessness throughout the winter.
While last year’s shelter had a capacity for 44 men, this year the space will be expanded wit h beds for up
to 70 men per night.
Operations are slated to begin November 1 and run through April 30.
This shelter is overnight-only and is open from 5:00pm– 8:00am each day.
The Rescue Mission will have two staff members present during all hours of operation, and they will have
assistance from Precision Security during both check -in and check-out.
FC Moves installed an additional bike rack outside the shelter and will be offering bike repair and safety
equipment to clients at this site.
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LONG-TERM, SYSTEMIC APPROACHES
Prevention & Supportive Services
Homeward Alliance
o The Murphy Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:30am-11:30am for indoor day shelter and
appointments, and from 11:30am-5:00pm for outdoor shelter and indoor appointments. Core
services they offer include showers, laundry, mail, and computer access.
o Received $1 million in ARPA funding from Larimer County to build a medical clinic on-site at the
Murphy Center. Groundbreaking will take place the week of October 23 with an anticipated
opening date in Q1 2024.
o Helped more people escape homelessness in the first 9 months of 2023 than during any other 9-
month period previously.
Outreach Fort Collins
o Q3 continued to see increased collaboration between OFC and the HOPE Team. Of the 53
unique clients referred from the HOPE Team to OFC in Q3, about 50% were previously unknown.
During this quarter, OFC had 367 contacts with those referred clients, including offering
resources 182 times and completing 41 agency referrals.
o Of the 99 total clients referred from the HOPE Team, 9 have either been housed or currently have
an assigned housing resource.
o In Q3, OFC received 505 incoming calls for community concerns , which is a 31% increase from
the previous quarter.
o Roughly 11% of incoming calls are related to the midtown expansion, which contributes to the
increase in calls but is not the sole factor. Other factors contributing to higher call volume include
increased awareness and increased client presence and activity.
Catholic Charities
o At least 10 families on the wait list for emergency overflow shelter every night.
o Continues to be over-capacity for women’s overflow shelter but, so far, no single women have
been turned away.
o Will continue to ask overflow guests to check-out at 8:30am and check back in at 2:00pm;
however, they will create a temperature-based policy for when people can stay 24/7.
o Ongoing challenges to stay fully staffed.
Fort Collins Rescue Mission
o There were 50 men turned away in July, 100 in August, and 75 in September.
o In July, there were a total of 190 unique guests served, 182 in August, and 185 in September.
o FCRM converted about 20 beds from reserved/program beds into overflow beds in preparation
for the winter season.
o Denver Rescue Mission is concerned they may not have enough shelter capacity during the
winter for people experiencing homelessness in the Denver metro area. Fort Collins Rescue
Mission has flagged this as a situation that has potential to impact local/r egional sheltering and
demand.
Future 24/7 Shelter Facility
o Fort Collins Rescue Mission plans to submit their development review proposal in the first week
of November.
o Has $20 million raised for the new facility (which includes $5.5 million from the State of Colorado
through the Transformational Projects Fund) and will be launching a capital campaign to raise an
additional $7 million.
Longview Behavioral Health Facility
o Acute Care services will open December 2
o 16 beds in Crisis Stabilization Unit
o Will offer care coordination, substance use treatment, withdrawal management, and other
behavioral health services.
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Funding
2023
o The City allocates funds to support partner organizations that provide direct services to people
experiencing homelessness and increase the availability of housing options.
o For 2023, a total of $955,000 in ARPA funds were allocated to seven agencies via 11 contracts.
o The ARPA contracts include program support to the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care,
Catholic Charities, Crossroads Safehouse, Family Housing Network, Fort Collins Rescue Mission,
Homeward Alliance, and Outreach Fort Collins for resource navigation, 24/7 shelter operations,
street outreach, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and other general
operations.
o Additionally, $100,000 in general funds were allocated to Outreach Fort Collins for ongoing
operations in their service area.
2024
o For 2024, the final year of homelessness initiatives being funded via ARPA recovery dollars,
there will be $500k allocated through a competitive grant process.
The application process was open in September and is now closed.
There are a total of nine applications requesting a combined $918k.
A review panel comprised of four internal staff members will convene for deliberations in
early November.
o An additional approximately $500k will be contracted with agencies directly for programmatic and
operational expenses.
Evaluation, Metrics and Reporting
Point in Time Count
o The 2023 PIT count was led by the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care (NoCO CoC) and
conducted on January 24, 2023.
o In Fort Collins, the count showed 273 sheltered and 120 unsheltered people experiencing
homelessness. In comparison, there were 263 sheltered and 84 unsheltered people counted in
2022.
o This year’s count saw better process and data collection with increased engagement from
Outreach Fort Collins, and included smaller communities like Windsor, Estes Park, and
Johnstown for the first time.
o The 2023 PIT Count Data Dashboard can be viewed on the NoCO CoC’s website:
https://www.nocococ.org/data-reports
o The full 2023 Point in Time & Housing Inventory Count Report is now available on the CoC’s
website under “Data & Reports.”
Quarterly, HMIS data is shared with the City to demonstrate impacts of funding and services, track the
current number of program utilizers, and help analyze community trends.
o The total number of people experiencing chronic homelessness in Q3 was 592 and 26 people
who had been experiencing chronic homelessness were moved into permanent housing. In
comparison, there were 600 people experiencing chronic homelessness in Q2 (with 27 housed),
and 629 people experiencing chronic homelessness in Q1 (with 39 housed).
o Please note: Beginning in Q2 2023, this data has been more accurately filtered to reflect ONLY
Fort Collins, whereas other locations may have been picked up in previous reporting cycles.
Larger fluctuations in numbers may be due to this change.
All ARPA-funded programs are required to report into the Homeless Management Information System
(HMIS) and share quarterly reports outlining the impact of these funds.
Strategic Planning
Homeward Alliance is leading efforts to create a county-wide homelessness strategic plan, with
partnership agencies and municipalities from across Larimer County. Currently, the team is developing a
Request for Proposals to hire a consulting firm to lead the strategic planning process. The RFP will be
launched by Larimer County and is estimated to take 3 -6 months until a consultant is onboarded.
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Work Session Follow -Up
As requested at the homelessness work session with City Council on September 12, some additional information
has been compiled:
First-Time Homelessness
The below chart shows responses to the question “Is this your first episode of homelessness (within the last 3
years)?” In 2021, the data fields in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) were not as robust as
they are currently, so there was a higher percentage of “missing data” than in more recent data sets. For
reference, in Q1 2021, 25% of people said this was their first episode of homelessness, and in Q3 2023 that
number was 32%.
Definition/Reporting of Disability
To be considered chronically homeless, the individual or head of household must be a “homeless individual with a
disability” as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act as amended by the HEARTH Act. An individual or head of
household’s qualifying disability must be documented by one of the following:
Written verification of the disability from a professional licensed by the state to diagnose and treat the
disability and his or her certification that the disability is expected to be long -continuing or of indefinite
duration and substantially impedes the individual’s ability to live independently;
Written verification from the Social Security Administration;
The receipt of a disability check (e.g., Social Security Disability Insurance check or Veteran Disability
Compensation);
Intake staff-recorded observation of disability that, no later than 45 days from the application for assistance,
is confirmed and accompanied by evidence above; or
Other documentation approved by HUD.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023
Yes No Missing Data
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Further, acceptable evidence of a disability for an individual with HIV/AIDS would include written verification from
a professional licensed by the state to diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS. There would not be an expectation that the
licensed professional would also certify that the condition is expected to be of long -continuing or indefinite
duration and substantially impede the individual's ability to live independently.
Levels of Acuity (Vulnerability) & Resources Most Effective at Each Level
The data shown below breaks down the total number of clients currently on the By-Name List (886), including
domestic violence households, and the percentage of each acuity level, and which resources tend to be most
effective at each level. It’s important to note that vulnerability/acuity fluctuates and tends to worsen as people
remain homeless.
High Acuity – 20% (179/886) – Permanent Supportive Housing with Intensive Integrated Supportive Service
Moderately High Acuity – 36% (316/886) – Permanent Supportive Housing with Supportive Services Available
Moderate Acuity – 37% (331/886) – Rapid Rehousing with Supportive Services Available
Lower Acuity – 7% (59/886) – No or Short-Term Intervention, One-Time Rental Assistance or Diversion
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