The homeless engagement assistance and resource team (heart) consists of civilian navigators who CO-respond with sheriffs office deputies to assist unsheltered residents throughout douglas county, CO

This federal Project Grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753), supports the Homeless Engagement Assistance and Resource Team (HEART) initiative in Douglas County, Colorado. The HEART program consists of civilian navigators who co-respond with sheriff's deputies to assist unsheltered residents, providing case management, connecting clients to stabilization services, and helping them obtain shelter and housing solutions. The $1,295,764 award will fund the HEART program for one year and expand the team from three to five units, allowing for expanded coverage during evening and weekend hours to ensure all individuals experiencing homelessness have access to critical resources and interventions. The HEART program was established in 2022 through the Douglas County Homeless Initiative, which focuses on compassion, code-enforcement, community services, and communication to address homelessness in the county.

The heart provides collaborative support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness through case management by connecting clients to stabilization services and providing information on community-based resources. Heart navigators conduct field-based assessments, have a thorough understanding of the homeless system of care, match appropriate services to identified needs, and help those being served obtain shelter and housing solutions of their choosing. Deputies selected to serve with heart are experienced law enforcement officers who are trained in crisis intervention and DE-escalation. The inclusion of a deputy on this CO-response team ensures the safety of all involved including the person experiencing homelessness, the navigator and the community at large. By working with navigators to obtain services, deputies can often divert the person served away from the judicial system toward meaningful interventions. The heart was established in 2022 through the douglas county homeless initiative. Four core principles drive the efforts of the initiative: compassion, code-enforcement, community services and communication. The heart was the first intervention established that encompasses these four elements. This application seeks funding to operate the heart for one year and expand the size of the team by two units, from the current three to a total of five. The additional units will allow for expanded coverage during the evening and weekend hours to ensure that all who are experiencing homeless have access to resources.