Homeward Alliance (HWA), in collaboration with Larimer County and other nonprofit stakeholders, is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative aimed at supporting unhoused individuals and families in our community. This effort, led by HWA, combines diverse resources and expertise, with Larimer County serving as a dedicated supporter and ambassador to strengthen community-driven solutions for those in need.

In 2023, staff from Larimer County and United Way of Larimer County formed a committee that includes representatives from the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care (including HWA as the HMIS Lead Agency), the cities of Loveland, Fort Collins, Estes Park, and other key stakeholders. The coalition recognized the importance of each city’s existing homelessness response plans, yet identified ways in which improved regional collaboration would enable resource sharing, continuity of services across boundaries, and more efficient data coordination.

Larimer County has contributed in-kind resources to help secure grant funding for this initiative, underscoring the County’s dedication to bolstering community-led projects. This contribution highlights the County’s role as an ambassador for local collaboration and resource-sharing.

"As a community, we share both a responsibility and an opportunity to effectively address homelessness with empathy, collaboration, and action,” said John Kefalas, Chair of the Larimer Board of County Commissioners. “We know that every individual and family experiencing homelessness has a unique story and diverse needs. By working closely with our partners across Larimer County, we’re committed to building a plan that honors those experiences and acknowledges the complexities of the issue while ensuring we optimize our community resources. This strategic plan marks an important step toward a future where everyone can access safe, stable, secure housing and necessary supportive services."

HWA secured funding from the State of Colorado to develop this county-wide strategy and, through Larimer County’s procurement process, selected two consulting firms, JG Research & Evaluation and OMNI Institute, to lead the planning efforts. Under the committee’s guidance, these firms will collaborate to deliver a final plan by September 2025. Implementation is expected to begin in 2025-2026, with the committee continuing to work with JG and OMNI or engaging another consulting partner to support this phase.

The planning process will involve interviews, focus groups, surveys, and other methods to include voices from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including nonprofit agencies, foundations, elected officials, technical experts, those experiencing homelessness, and other community members. This inclusive approach aims to ensure the resulting plan is both actionable and reflective of the community's diverse needs and values.

While the plan will encompass Larimer County, it will also include specific strategies and tactics tailored for Loveland, Fort Collins, and Estes Park to implement and address each city's unique needs.

According to David Rout, HWA Executive Director, “The need for regional collaboration is made even more pressing given significant changes in the local homelessness response system, spurred by COVID-19 relief funding. With temporary pandemic-era funding phasing out, Larimer County must develop a sustainable, coordinated plan to guide the region forward.”

Together, HWA, Larimer County, and other nonprofit stakeholders are paving the way toward a stronger, more inclusive community. Through this partnership, participating organizations aim to support community-driven solutions and encourage local government involvement for impactful, long-term change.  HWA will issue further updates as this initiative progresses and invites all interested parties to follow along as Larimer County moves toward a coordinated and compassionate approach to addressing homelessness.