HOUSING

clients’ needs. In some cases, that’s a temporary setting, she added.

Hundreds of contacts e nonpro t received a federal grant last year for a street outreach team — workers who approach people in need. at program launched last year and is active in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, an AllHealth sta member told the committee at the meeting. e team collaborates with Douglas County’s Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team, or HEART, which began in mid-September. ( e county began collecting data on HEART in October.)

AllHealth, the nonpro t, also plays a role in addressing homelessness in the south metro area.

From October to February, 602 referrals have been submitted to HEART, according to county spokesperson Wendy Holmes. ose resulted in the following outcomes:

• In 208 cases, people were contacted and received services.

• 228 cases were “informationonly” referrals.

• 102 cases were listed as “unable the county to the exclusion of the majority of residents.

While I understand the state not wanting to interfere with local governance, I believe that the state has an obligation to stand up for citizen’s rights to self-governance. Choosing our county commissioners would be a huge step forward in giving voice to “we the people.”

Terry Cannon, Castle Rock

extremism and let developers have their way with our land.

It’s another thing to watch the three whittle away at the foundations of the commissioners’ duties, the institution itself, purely for political gain. An example of which is whittling Lora’s committee duties; how does that overt power grab bene t any DougCo citizen?

Katie Barrett, Castle Rock

Expand BoCC ere is no better argument for expanding the number of requisite seats on large county commissioner boards than the anti-democratic Douglas County BoCC.

It’s one thing for our partisan board members to routinely ignore large segments of DougCo residents when they sidle-up to right-wing to locate.”

• 54 were listed as “not cooperative.”

• 10 were listed as “unoccupied camps.”

In February, three HEART clients were assisted with housing searches, and six clients received hotel vouchers, Ti any Marsitto, a supervisor with HEART, told the committee during the March 9 meeting.

Population can be di cult to track Douglas County saw a drop in the number of people experiencing homelessness who were counted as part of the Denver metro area’s annual snapshot of the unhoused this year compared to last, according to early data the county presented in early February.

Each year, typically in January, volunteers and sta from sources such as nonpro ts and local governments team up in communities across the Denver metro area, and areas around the nation, to conduct the Point in Time count of their region’s homeless population. is year’s metro Denver count started the evening of Jan. 30 and ran into the next morning.

In Douglas County, o cials quickly presented early data from this year’s count. ey highlighted that the overall number of homeless dropped to 57, down from 78 last year, with the count of unsheltered homeless dropping to 27, down from 50.

For better or worse, we have the three commissioners we have. We, e People, elected each one with the expectation of honesty and integrity. Plus is our region shown in the best light by childish antics?

It’s time to grow the DougCo Board with two more members to enhance my representation by listening to my neighborhood’s community needs. Representation means representing all, not just the ones you’re beholden to. Do better.

In 2020, Douglas County’s overall count — sheltered and unsheltered — was 53. In 2019, that number was 14, and in 2018, it was 34. ( e metro area did not count unsheltered homeless in 2021 due to COVID-19 safety concerns.)

Because the Point in Time count generally takes place on a single night and can be a ected by weather or other variables, the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative does not recommend looking at data trends year over year, although the count remains an often-cited statistic.

County o cials have heralded the drop in Douglas County’s Point in Time numbers as indicating a decrease in overall homelessness in the county.

But large percentage shifts are more likely in Douglas County, where the annual count tends to be in double digits. By contrast, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties’ 2022 tallies each sat at about 500. In Denver, the number was about 4,800.

Also complicating the picture: People without homes don’t always stay in the same area. And widening the time period beyond a single night can provide a di erent picture.

Enough infighting

I’m tired of reading about the endless in ghting between Douglas County Commissioners. And I agree a county this size may bene t from representation by more than three when two can hold a majority vote. Leading is about resolving con ict, nding middle ground, and acting with discernment. Serving is about removing self and acting in others best interest. I don’t nd these traits in our current group of three elected to lead and serve. Maybe starting fresh with a slate of seven would renew a spirit of servant leadership and replace personal agendas with relevant issues.

Doug Reese, Highlands Ranch

Of the people referred to HEART in February, 106 of those were unduplicated, or unique, individuals.

“To let you know, those were not new homeless individuals; they were new to the month of February,” Marsitto said. “It (could be someone) we worked with in the past, we weren’t able to contact them for a month and then they came back.”

Helping a man back on his feet

Marsitto shared a recent HEART success story of a man who was panhandling — he said he had been homeless for more than 40 years. e man said he had some belongings stolen from him, Marsitto said. e team “was able to help him apply for food stamps (assistance) and health insurance right where he was,” Marisitto said.

During a follow-up meeting, the man said he had a potential job opportunity out of state.

Greg Matthews, a HEART sta er, reached out to one of the team’s faith-based partners, which purchased a Greyhound bus ticket to get the man to his destination.

“ e faith-based partner also put him up in a hotel the night before he departed so he could have a warm place to stay and a shower so he could … start his employment,” Marsitto said.

Public Notices

OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said