Westminster nonprofits warn Adams County TANF contract changes will reduce homelessness prevention

Representatives of three nonprofits told the Westminster City Council on Oct. 6 that changes to how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money is distributed in Adams County will sharply reduce rental- and homelessness-prevention assistance available to local residents.

The nonprofits — Growing Home, Almost Home and Family Tree — said Adams County’s decision to let homelessness-prevention contracts funded by TANF sunset at the end of 2025 will remove roughly $2.9 million that now supports rental, mortgage and utility assistance, case management and shelter services. City staff said they will seek a regional meeting with county officials and other municipalities to explore ways to replace those funds.

TANF is a federal program routed through the state and then to counties. Kate Skarbak, the city’s lead for human services, said changes in Colorado law and county decisions are shifting more TANF dollars to basic cash-assistance programs administered directly by county case managers. “This is funding that was not affected by that bill,” she said of other recent state budget actions, adding that TANF has been distributed “since 1996” and can be used for administrative, basic cash assistance or discretionary programs.

Nonprofit leaders described the local impact.…