Together
We can make homelessness
Rare, Short-lived and Non-Recurring

Every night there are people in Fort Collins without a secure place to be. They are our neighbors, our employees, our students, our friends, our relatives, our veterans and our youth. They need a safe place to sleep, and study, and care for children, and heal, and overcome a crisis, and collect resources, and think about what’s next, and are seeking a place to simply feel safe, secure and supported.

Working together we can do more. Our collaboration and contributions can make homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurring. Homelessness isn’t a distant program’s problem to possibly solve one day. Effective projects and programs are proliferating in the United States and the world. This is our own community’s opportunity to co-create housing and support solutions together.

Fort Collins is a desirable, thriving, innovative, and compassionate community. We are a community where all people can be safe, secure and supported. And we all have a part to play in finding solutions and support for people living without housing security or shelter, and who also mostly need…a community. Join our Homeward 2020 initiative.

Homeward 2020 4 Roles Within Our Community

Covener

Homeward 2020 brings together agency leaders, elected leaders, and community members to strategize and plan how to respond to homelessness.

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Catalyst

We ignite action in the community to influence practices and strengthen community systems capable of making homeless rare, short-lived, and non-recurring.

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Advocate

Homeward 2020 promotes the use of best practices and advances data-driven strategies shown to effectively reduce the rates of homeless.

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Data Driven

Homeward 2020 gathers, synthesizes and distributes local and national data to better understand the scope of homelessness as well as improve our local response to homelessness.

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At the end of the day, we’re just like everyone else. We want to be safe but we don’t have a door to lock. We want to know our things aren’t going to be stolen, we want to know that no one will hurt us.

John, Currently Homeless

For me, the Point-in-Time Count is personal and professional—it shows me what the homeless face every day. And it gives me a real picture of what happens when a community doesn’t provide veterans with productive options to better their lives.

Maggie Walsh, Assistant Chief of Staff, Director Veteran Initiatives, CSU

Our goal is simple and straightforward, we want to strengthen and support the wellbeing of our residents while ensuring a safe community for everyone.

Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager, City of Fort Collins

I first became homeless because I lost my job and couldn't pay rent. Now I have part-time jobs, and work every day of the week. But rent is still too high for me to find a place.

Trent, Currently Homeless

How do you “rebuild” a life that you never even had? I talked with men & women who moved from foster care or broken families to the street. There’s so much they’ve never had a chance to learn.

Tina, Point in Time Count volunteer

People judge me for being homeless, and then assume I can’t take care of my dog. So many times I’ve seen people freak out over a homeless dog and completely ignore me.

Jacob, Currently Homeless

I’m not homeless, I sleep in my car. And, I have temporary construction work. I feel bad for those folks sleeping down by the river. It’s not safe—we could sure use more shelter beds around here.