Douglas County approves 18‑month pilot to lease 8 supportive housing units for justice‑involved residents

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday approved an 18‑month pilot to master‑lease two fourplex buildings and reserve units for justice‑involved residents, redirecting $154,000 of the county’s 2025 ACT (assistance) allocation to the effort. The motion was moved by Commissioner Reed and seconded by Commissioner Kelly; the measure passed unanimously.

The pilot will put Bert Nash into a master lease with Sims Properties, with Burton Ash contracted by the county to reserve units for specialty courts and community corrections referrals. Each fourplex contains four two‑bedroom apartments; county presenters said the project would serve eight single‑occupancy residents or up to 16 residents if units are double‑occupied, and would free up two to three beds at the county’s Transitions program for higher‑acuity clients.

Bob Trojanski, director of behavioral health services, told commissioners the county has relied on a small number of supervised transitional beds provided by community partners since behavioral health court began in 2017, and that demand has grown. “Behavioral health court has had supportive housing provided by Bert Nash since its inception in 2017,” Trojanski said. He said the county currently reserves roughly three beds for specialty court clients but estimates it could use five to seven beds for that population.

Trojan­ski described the proposal as a “collaborative partnership” tested as an 18‑month experiment rather than a long‑term purchase. Under the plan, Bert Nash would master‑lease the two fourplexes at 505‑06 Colorado Street from Sims Properties and serve as property manager; Burton Ash would hold county reservations for specialty court and community corrections placements. Matthew Faulk, director of housing with Burton Ash, confirmed the property owner, Brian Sims, is a local investor and property manager.

County staff presented cost data showing the per‑bed daily cost at staffed Transitions has risen from about $35 per day several years ago to roughly $100 per day today. Trojanski said the proposed leased units could reduce per‑bed costs to approximately $35–$68 per day depending on single or double occupancy, though he cautioned initial startup costs and exact offsets remain to be confirmed. “Rent could offset the cost of this model, but we don't want to start by making any promises about ... what it's gonna cost to get this up and running,” Trojanski said.

Commissioners heard that the units will not all be immediately move‑in ready: two units could come online in July, with the remaining units phased in by September. Staff described operational tasks—furnishings, limited physical modifications and cameras, and service coordination—that must be completed before placements begin. County presenters said outcome tracking for the pilot will be developed by September and would rely on existing behavioral health court measures and quarterly reporting from Burton Ash and Bert Nash.

On funding, county staff said approving the pilot would use the remaining $154,000 of the 2025 ACT allocation for the rest of 2025 and that the 2026 recommended budget would include a line for justice‑involved transitional housing of about $200,000 (the amount previously allocated to ACT). Commissioners asked staff to clarify budget line assignments and the eventual placement of those dollars within behavioral health court or transitions budgets as part of upcoming budget deliberations.

The commission approved the following formal action: redirect $154,000 of the 2025 Bert Nash ACT funding allocation to implement the justice‑involved supportive housing pilot and authorize the county administrator to execute an addendum to the 2025 Burton Ash service agreement to support a master‑lease agreement with Sims Properties. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners and staff framed the pilot as both a potential cost‑saver and, more importantly, as a better fitting housing option for some justice‑involved clients who may not thrive in congregate transitional settings. Commissioners asked for a clearer timeline for outcome reporting and budget placement ahead of the 2026 budget process.