Homeless Solutions for Boulder County successfully exited eight veterans out of homelessness in 2022.
The organization is a multi-jurisdiction partnership between Boulder County, Boulder and Longmont that works with nonprofits to exit individuals out of homelessness. The regional system combines a coordinated entry process with provision of supportive and housing services to assist people out of homelessness.
Last year in Boulder County, seven veterans were housed, one was reunified with friends or family and 22 were moved to inactive status due to no client contact, known as neutral exit. HSBC Systems Manager Heidi Grove explained that veterans moved to “inactive” doesn’t mean they are either no longer homeless or still experiencing homelessness — it means the county has exhausted attempts to locate or contact them for 90 days or longer and/or they are no longer in the county. The definition is necessary due to the transience of the population, Grove explained.
In 2022, Coordinated Entry identified 79 homeless veterans in Boulder County. As of April, the county has identified 17 veterans experiencing homelessness with the county seeing a decrease in veterans experiencing homelessness in the county throughout the first five months of 2023.
There are an estimated 438 homeless veterans in the Denver Metro area. Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s 2022 Point-in-time count data in 2022 showed a significant decrease in veteran homelessness across the region, despite an increase in overall homelessness last year.
Boulder County was able to obtain nine additional Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, the only county to be awarded new vouchers in the metro area last year.
“To achieve quality data for veterans means that we know who’s in our community,” Grove said. “We identify our veterans person by person and strategize the most appropriate exit and resources for them to end homelessness.”
Boulder County joined the Built for Zero effort in metro Denver in 2020 and was recently recognized as having achieved quality data for veteran homelessness. Built for Zero is a national movement, methodology and campaign across the U.S. committed to ending homelessness.
As of April, Boulder County has been deemed eligible for the “final mile,” which is the last stretch before a sub region reaches functional zero. This classification means less than three veterans are experiencing homelessness in a given region.
The county is also working closely with the Veterans Community Project, such as helping to fund the nonprofit’s outreach center for veterans facing every type of problem including homelessness. As part of the Worthy Cause funded grants, Boulder County awarded the Veterans Community Project $150,000 in 2022 and $250,000 in 2023.
Longmont supported VCP by waiving city development fees for the property in Longmont, which will be hosting a ribbon cutting 5-7:30 p.m. May 18 at 3095 Mountain Brook Drive. Community members can RSVP to attend the celebration of the completion of the VCP Village Community Center.
Since October 2017, Homeless Solutions for Boulder County has exited 1,821 individuals out of homelessness in the county, including veterans. In 2022, 223 total individuals were housed, eight exited the system and 108 were reunified with family or friends.
