Homelessness in Weld County Homelessness means our neighbors cannot fully contribute their unique talents and gifts to our community.
“I would tell them that we have a problem (in Weld County) whether they know it or not – that the homeless are mainly women and guys with kids.”
– Individual experiencing homelessness in Weld County
“They tell us to move around. They won’t even let me get stable enough in a campsite … how am I going to get stable enough emotionally to go down and sit in your buildings where I’m uncomfortable and fill our your paper work that stresses me out to get into the programming. I can’t even mentally stabilize and that’s not right.”
– Individual experiencing homelessness in Weld County
“People that want to be lifted out of their situation still might have their problems until they can (become) stabilized. Keeping them homeless ins’t going to stabilize anyone.”
– Individual experiencing homeless in Weld County
“I try and to hide my backpack and look like I have somewhere to go when I’m walking. I know how (people with stable housing) see me and I don’t want to make them uncomfortable, but I also don’t want to draw attention to myself either. It’s exhausting trying to do this when you don’t have a place to live.”
– Individual experiencing homelessness in Weld County
Homelessness looks different for each person experiencing it.
There are, however, two main ways a household can experience homelessness. These definitions come from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Both definitions have been amended by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD considers households homeless if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, if they will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, or if they are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
The McKinney-Vento definition, most widely used by the U.S. Department of Education and local school districts, is more inclusive than the HUD definition. In addition to the HUD criteria, McKinney-Vento also defines those that are living doubled up out of necessity, and not due to a cultural preference, as homeless.
Broadly, there are four populations of homelessness.
VETERANS: Any individual who has served at least one day of active duty in the armed forces.
FAMILIES: Any group with at least one adult (over 24) or youth (18-24) AND at least one child, under the age of 18.
YOUTH: Any individual between the ages of 18 – 24 who
is experiencing homelessness. Weld’s Way Home also includes unaccompanied minors, any child or youth (under the age of 18) who is without his/her legal guardian and is not in foster care or the care of any other public or private institution.
INDIVIDUALS (CHRONIC): Any individual who has a disability – substance abuse disorder, mental illness, developmental disability, PTSD, cognitive impairments resulting from brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability – and has been literally homeless for at least 12 months continuously or on at least four occasions in the last three years for 12 months in total.
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nGet Help in Weld County Weld County has some of the best service providers in the country. Finding help is as easy as 1-2-3.
Make a list of your challenges.
You are not alone. Everyday, thousands of people across northern Colorado turn to 2-1-1 for information and support – whether financial, domestic, health, disaster-related. 2-1-1 is free, confidential and bilingual referral line that connects people to the essential health and human services the need. A toll-free call to 2-1-1 connects you to a community resource specialist in your area who can put you in touch with local organizations that provide critical services that can improve-and save-lives.
Grab a phone and call 2-1-1 to learn what’s available.
2-1-1 can be accessed by phone or computer. A cell phone call to 2-1-1 (or a landline call to 800-599-5599) connects you to a community resource specialist who can connect you with local organizations that provide critical services that improve—and save—lives. Calls are taken 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you call after those times, leave a voicemail and a representative will return your call.
Connect with agencies and reach your goals.
Northern Colorado has some of the most comprehensive services and dedicated providers in the county. Reach out to the agencies you were connected to by your 2-1-1 representative. Make a list of your appointments with these agencies including the dates, times and locations. Find the obstacles keeping you from making those appointments and create a plan to overcome those obstacles before your appointments.
