Whether you’re in need of support or want to help someone who is, Douglas County offers compassionate, coordinated services through the Homeless Initiative to connect individuals and families with immediate assistance and long-term solutions.
If you’re in need of assistance, or see someone in need, please contact a member of HEART below. This is not an emergency service – dial 911 for emergencies!
* Text Message Terms of Service: Standard text and data rates may apply. By texting you agree to receive a text response from a member of the Douglas County HEART. To stop receiving messages at any time, reply STOP. Message frequency varies. For help, text HELP to 303-660-7301 or email [email protected]. View Douglas County’s Privacy Policy.
The Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART) is Douglas County’s front-line response team for individuals experiencing homelessness. Formed in 2022, HEART is a co-responder program pairing navigators with local law enforcement to provide outreach, support and resources.
HEART Navigators are experts in housing, behavioral health and case management. They meet people where they are with empathy and help connect them to the services they need, including:
HEART aims to guide individuals away from emergency rooms or jail and toward sustainable solutions.
If you or someone you know needs help securing food, health care, housing, child care or financial assistance, there are many resources available from the Douglas County Department of Human Services and other organizations throughout the County. Use our online resource search tool to find all available health and human services offered by Douglas County and our partners, or visit 211.org for information about additional local resources.
For individuals exiting the Douglas County Detention Center, reintegration services are available to help transition back into the community. An analysis completed by the Department of Human Services, the Sheriff’s Office’s Reintegration Team and the Detentions Administration identified several services important to supporting those reentering the community:
Transportation to housing, medical appointments or probation check-ins
Shelter placement referrals
Assistance with Medicaid and other benefits
Basic essentials like hygiene kits, clothing and groceries
Case management and mental health support through the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative
The Reintegration Deputy plays a key role in coordinating transportation and follow-up check-ins to help reduce barriers and prevent individuals from returning to homelessness.
