WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — The Wheat Ridge City Council received an update Monday, Oct. 20, on the city’s Homeless Navigation Program, including program results since 2020 and plans for severe-weather sheltering.

Housing navigator Corey Koehler told council members the program has placed 175 households into transitional or permanent housing since it began and recorded 34 placements since the last annual update. “We have 175 transitional and permanent housing placements since the program began,” Koehler said.

The update said the median time from first contact to housing placement is 129 days and the longest case recorded so far was 936 days. Koehler also reported the program’s aftercare checks are showing early success: “We’re seeing that 83% of households are still housed,” he said, referring to the metric tracked one year after placement.

Why it matters

Councilors and staff said the program’s combination of outreach, flexible financial assistance and aftercare helps people overcome barriers that otherwise make housing difficult to attain or sustain. The program provides targeted help such as paying security deposits, helping obtain IDs and birth certificates, referring clients for behavioral-health or legal services, and assisting with subsidy or voucher applications.

Details from the presentation

- Referral sources: Staff said roughly half of referrals come from city departments (police, municipal court, parks, public works and environmental services). Other referrals come from community partners, motels and word-of-mouth from current or former clients.

- Placements and timelines: The program has achieved 175 placements overall and 34 in the past year. Median days to placement is 129; the longest case recorded reached 936 days. Staff emphasized that while some placements are quick, many require long case management and paperwork.

- Aftercare and retention: The program implemented a formal aftercare check-in schedule and tracks one-year outcomes. Staff reported that 83% of households remain housed at the one-year mark, a retention metric the navigators began tracking this year.

- Costs and categories: Staff said bridge housing (temporary motel placements while a long-term unit is finalized) is the program’s largest expense, followed by move-in costs (security deposits, first month’s rent and renter’s insurance). Staff said they are now separately tracking furnishing purchases (bed frames, mattresses) to help newly housed clients succeed.

- Grants and partnerships: Staff said they have applied for a DOLA (Department of Local Affairs) Homelessness Resolution Program grant for $60,000 and expect a Colorado Gives Foundation award of $25,000 in March. The navigators also identified the Wheat Ridge Community Foundation as a local donation channel and noted partnerships with congregations (Glory of God Lutheran Church and Holy Cross Lutheran) and regional providers, including the GEFCO Homeless Navigation Collaborative and Foothills Regional Housing (projects cited included Vance Street Lofts and The Ives).

- Severe weather and motel vouchers: With the Lakewood Navigation Center undergoing renovation and Mission Arvada unavailable this winter for overnight sheltering, staff said the city and its GEFCO partners entered an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to voucher motel rooms when severe weather is declared. The group estimated capacity for 200 motel rooms across partners for an anticipated 50 nights of severe weather, and staff said a separate extreme-weather pop-up shelter will operate from GEFCO Human Services for only the coldest nights.

Council questions and discussion

Councilors raised operational and measurement questions. Councilor Weaver asked how residents can donate and was directed to the Wheat Ridge Community Foundation link and a flyer staff said they could circulate. Councilor Holtine asked about pet accommodations; staff said they seek pet-friendly units and encourage emotional-support-animal documentation where needed. Councilor Dozeman asked why some clients are auto-exited after 180 days of no contact; staff said many clients move to other jurisdictions, engage other agencies, or were only passing through and that the program does warm handoffs when possible. Councilors also discussed utility and energy-assistance referrals and regional service availability.

Client examples

Koehler offered anonymized client stories to illustrate common barriers: one client living in a motel was paying roughly $492 per week and could not save for a deposit; the program helped pay past-due debt and secure an apartment for the client and an adult son. Staff also described a client whose trailer-park rent increased after new ownership purchased the lot; the client was working full time but was priced out and living in motels while staff searched for a permanent unit.

Process and next steps

The council did not take formal action on the update. Staff said they will circulate materials (including a donations flyer and severe-weather procedures) and will return with updates as needed. Multiple councilors praised the program and encouraged continued funding and interagency coordination.

Ending

Staff asked councilors to contact them with follow-up questions and said they will notify council if regional capacity or funding shifts require changes to operations or the city budget.