Jefferson County, partners finalize cold-weather shelter IGA as local volunteers plead for more food resources

Volunteers who feed people experiencing homelessness told the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 that demand for meals has risen sharply and that nonprofit partners need better access to nutritious food and coordination with county services.

Mandy Gallagher, president of the board of Main Street Ministry and speaking on behalf of Feeding Jeffco Together, said volunteers were feeding about 30 people per day before the COVID-19 pandemic, that numbers climbed to 175 per day by the end of last year, and that volunteers are now operating a mobile box truck on four days per week. “We don’t got the food to do that,” Gallagher said, asking the county to help coordinate food sourcing and distribution.

Commissioners and staff acknowledged the need and highlighted a related action on the consent agenda. The board publicly thanked Carrie Renick, the county’s regional homeless coordinator; Chair Dahlkemper praised Renick’s leadership in negotiating a cold-weather shelter intergovernmental agreement. County Manager Joe Kirby announced that, as of the night before the meeting, “all of the cities within the county have approved the cold weather shelter IGA,” and said the county was prepared to implement the IGA by its Oct. 1 target date.

At the Sept. 23 meeting the IGA’s approval was referenced in the consent agenda and commissioners voted to approve consent items, but no separate public hearing on homeless services occurred. County staff and the regional homeless coordinator were available after the public comment period for follow-up with service providers.

Volunteers said they will continue outreach and requested county assistance connecting to food sources and distribution networks; commissioners directed staff to coordinate with the regional homeless coordinator and community partners.