Douglas County HEART team launches text line, outlines point-in-time count and recent service data

The HEART team announced a new public text number for residents to reach the county—s outreach navigators and provided an update on point-in-time planning and recent service outcomes.

Tiffany Marcito, supervisor with community services and the HEART team, told the committee the county will complete its summer point-in-time count on the night of July 28 to measure unhoused populations across the county and compare summer and winter trends. "The winter point in time is required by HUD, but Douglas County, as Commissioner Layden says, we don't wait to be great," Marcito said, explaining the county conducts a summer count to compare seasonal trends.

Rand, an information-technology staff member, demonstrated a new texting system linked to the same public number printed on HEART materials. The public can now call or text (303) 660-7301; incoming texts enter a monitored dashboard, a navigator can claim the message, and supervisors can assign unclaimed messages. Rand said the service was soft-launched and has been operational in testing for about two weeks.

Marcito provided recent monthly data: in June the HEART program enrolled 26 new clients and discharged 25; the team received 188 referrals, handled 10 business engagements and gathered 10 trespass letters. By-name data maintained by HEART staff indicated 55 people in the county—s by-name list: 25 sheltered (5 singles and 7 households totaling 20 people), 23 sleeping in vehicles (19 singles and one family of three), 7 sleeping outside (five of whom staff described as refusing services) and no active encampments of one or more. The team also reported 150 services provided across clients in the previous 13 months and geographic concentrations of calls in Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Parker.

Marcito and the team described operational features supporting outreach: drone imagery for open-space checks, RTD and law-enforcement partners for transit-center outreach, backpacks and presence at the Strive to Thrive event, coordination with Douglas County Department of Human Services for eligibility screening via the jail—s internal messaging ("kites"), and transport support including Lyft rides and bus passes. The team said they are working to brief health-care providers and other community partners so more people hear about HEART services.

Kirsten Swanson of the Douglas County Community Foundation announced a $2,500 distribution to the HEART team from the foundation and said the foundation expects to continue periodic grant distributions for local homelessness efforts.

County leaders at the meeting praised the integrated response model that pairs clinicians with law enforcement and urged continued outreach and data-driven PIT efforts. Commissioner Layden said the county wants the public to know the program standards and resources and thanked staff for coordinating the text launch and PIT preparations.