Adams County adds $250,000 to homelessness-prevention project with Brothers Redevelopment

Adams County commissioners approved Amendment 1 to the agreement with Brothers Redevelopment Inc., adding $250,000 to a targeted initiative intended to prevent homelessness. The amendment is part of a larger $1,000,000 block project funded through one-time funds appropriated in the last budget cycle.

Matt Rivera, director of Community Safety and Well-being, said the initial portion of the project aimed to prevent 22 evictions; staff reported the program prevented 26 evictions, exceeding the original target. Rivera told commissioners the work included courses and services to improve housing stability. "We actually achieved a number of 26, so we exceeded the initial goal," he said, and asserted that the interventions avoided "nearly $500,000 worth of downstream costs in social and direct impacts to our community."

Commissioners asked detailed questions about program focus and administration. Commissioner Henson confirmed that the primary role of the program is eviction prevention and that ZIP codes were identified through research showing disproportionate impacts. Rivera said the additional $250,000 would be added to the existing contract that runs through fall of the year; staff plan to return later with a new contract request to allocate the remaining appropriated funds.

Commissioner Baca framed the investment as an upstream approach to reduce higher downstream costs such as cleanup of encampments and other emergency responses. "This investment of $250,000 upstream to really do the totality of the work of focusing on the individual, keeping them housed so we don't end up in encampments," she said.

The board moved to approve the amendment and the motion passed unanimously. Staff said they will continue to track outcomes and provide data analysis and reporting to the board.