County receives $50K from state for homelessness prevention

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With an eye on keeping older adults housed, Douglas County received a $50,000 grant from the state to help stop homelessness before it starts.

e Colorado Department of Human Services partnered with the Douglas County Department of Human Services to “implement innovative homelessness initiatives that support the delivery of homelessness prevention and/or housing retention services in Douglas County,” the project document says.

Under the partnership, 20 to 25 eligible households will receive emergency rent assistance up to $2,000 per household.

Households in the program must include at least one member over the age of 60, be currently receiving SNAP bene ts and be at risk of eviction.

SNAP is the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that helps low-income households buy food.

e county’s e ort also aims to keep people on track long term — beyond rent assistance — with “case management.” at’s a term that refers to assessment and planning regarding a person’s needs in order to connect them to services that are right for their situation.

Case management services will include:

• Review of any additional services for which the household or members of the household may be eligible;

• Assessment of the need for emergency rent assistance and obtaining veri cation of pending eviction; e grant consists entirely of state funds, according to the county’s website. e county government made an agreement with an organization called Aging Resources of Douglas County for it to carry out the work under the grant. e county’s elected leaders, or commissioners, unanimously approved an agreement for the grant with the state Department of Human Services and a “subgrantee agreement” with Aging Resources of Douglas County at the July 11 commissioners meeting.

• And meeting with the head of household as needed to track progress.

“No federal funds are included in this grant and there is no local share required,” the county’s website says.

Aging Resources of Douglas County describes itself as a 501(c) (3) serving Douglas County.

“We connect people to services, information, and resources that promote aging well, and with independence. Our services give residents more options to live life on their terms,” the organization’s website says.

Is yard work on your to-do list?

After all the rain, warmer weather is here, and you can drop off any tree limbs, shrubs or brush that you need to dispose of for free every Saturday through October at Douglas County’s Slash-Mulch site. For more information, visit douglas.co.us and search for Slash Mulch.

Older Adults: Tell us what you need

owner of Borrilo Entertainment, will presiding over performances by the Highlands Ranch Concert Band and Swing Shift Band. Residents will also have the opportunity to speak with and en- gage with rst responders. South Metro Fire Rescue will have some of their engines on display. And among their patrol vehicles, the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce’s K-9, mounted patrol and SWAT units will be in attendance to help recognize National Night Out in Highlands Ranch. Civic Green Park is located at 9370 Ridgeline Blvd.

If you are approaching retirement age, living in retirement or know and care about an aging adult in Douglas County, we want to hear from you. Join