Eagle County likely to launch a day center for the homeless and a prevention program
The catch is grant funding expires in late 2026
Chris Dillman/cdillman@vaildaily.com
Eagle County has grant money to spend on homeless services. The questions are how much can be accomplished, and what happens when the money runs out?
The answers, for now, seem to be, to try to do as much as possible and see how funding plays out in the future.
In a Feb. 18 presentation to the Eagle County Board of Commissioners, representatives of the county’s housing department talked about money and the options available to provide services
The work started in 2022, but the county in 2024 landed a $1 million homelessness response grant, and can use the funds for outreach services for those who are currently homeless. In a November “community conversation” with both individuals and partners including local schools, law enforcement, charities and other agencies, a number of needs were identified.
The greatest need identified was a day center. That center would include showers, laundry facilities and space for counseling, case management and other resources.
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Other needs included homeless prevention, for those who currently have a place to stay but are in danger of losing their homes for reasons including being behind on their rent. Homeless services manager Monica Brutout said as many as 30% of those contacted are ineligible for homeless services because they’re on that edge, but not yet homeless.
“It’s hard to believe we have to wait until people fail” before offering help, Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney said.
Housing manager Daniel Murray said that a day center and homelessness prevention efforts have a different focus. That’s why that requires separate efforts.
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The main effort would create a day center. There are sites under consideration, but one hasn’t been selected. It would be somewhere along the Interstate 70 corridor. That center would be the only one along the corridor between Denver and Grand Junction, although Brutout noted there’s a small center in Glenwood Springs and one in Aspen that serves people in Pitkin County.
Serving people in danger of losing their housing requires more than just providing funding, Brutout said. That program would be “a little more intensive,” she said, adding that such a program would come with strict guidelines to meet the conditions of its grant.
Brutout said helping those in danger of losing their housing could include other local agencies, perhaps including nonprofits such as Catholic Charities or the Salvation Army.
Housing Department Director Kim Bell Williams noted that her department could take on both tasks until about September 2026, but the job would require hiring a full-time person.
Commissioner Matt Scherr said it would be unfortunate to hire someone only to let that person go in 18 months.
The grants require local matches, but Bell Williams said funding is available in the housing authority’s budget. The required matches can be made “without giving up much,” she said.
Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney said she “feels strongly” that the county should pursue both programs, adding that the grant funding for programs gives the county “a lot of bang for the buck.”
However, commissioners and housing department officials expressed concern about the sustainability of the programs.
Brutout noted that prevention funds could be spent as quickly as six months in some cases, adding there’s a risk of taking on too much.
Commissioner Tom Boyd agreed that pursuing both a day center and a prevention program is worth doing. But, he added, “leveraging partnerships” may be key to sustaining those programs moving into the future.
