City of Fremont Achieves Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness
By Robert Davis
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) announced on June 1 that the City of Fremont is now the 12thcommunity in the country to functionally end veteran homelessness.
Communities achieve the “functional zero” standard by identifying each person experiencing homelessness and demonstrating a plan to ensure all persons who sleep rough can be housed. The standard means there are more rooms available than people experiencing homelessness on any given night.
Community Solutions, a nationwide nonprofit, certified Fremont as a part of its Built for Zero campaign, an initiative comprising of over 80 cities that have committed to achieving functional zero homelessness. Fremont has been working with Built for Zero since 2019.
“Effective solutions for chronic homelessness among veterans, individuals, families, and young adults is a pivotal aspect of our mission to ensure every Coloradan is safely and securely housed,” DOLA Housing Director Alison George said in a statement. “This achievement in Fremont is a result of the hard work of partnerships between Community Solutions, other nonprofits, and our state and local partners, all working diligently together.”
According to Community Solutions’ website, seven local entities teamed up to help Fremont meet the standard: Solvista Health, Starpoint Adult & Child Services, Fremont County Department of Human Services, Fremont County Veteran Service Officer, Upper Arkansas Area Council of Government Housing Authority, the City of Canon City and Loaves and Fishes Ministries—which operates the county’s only homeless shelter. The group was also supported by Kaiser Permanente.
Cañon City Mayor Ashley Smith described the efforts of the squad as “a game-changer” in creating effective homeless intervention services.
“One of the major shifts was realizing there wasn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but by creating a by-name list, the Built for Zero team could tailor a solution for each homeless person and household. With steadfast commitment our local Built for Zero team has worked wonders in giving a hand up for our homeless to reconnect to family, start choosing better life choices, and re-enter society with housing, stability, and work. There is still a lot of work to do, but with community support and the continued dedication of a well-tailored team, we will continue to see homelessness in Fremont County decrease,” she said in a statement.
According to the 2019 Point in Time Count (PIT) for the Balance of State Continuum of Care, which assists rural communities in applying for Continuum of Care funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development there were a total of 13 veterans experiencing homelessness in Fremont County.
However, DeeDee Clement, executive director of Loaves and Fishes, told Westword that the team’s work with Built for Zero helped them identify other veterans who are sleeping rough, bringing the total up to 29.
While the shelter operated by Loaves and Fishes Ministries has 17 beds, the shelter is full every night. So, the team got to work on new ways to identify and keep in contact with people experiencing homelessness, Clement said.
As of Tuesday, a total of three veterans were sleeping on the streets in Fremont County.
In comparison, the latest PIT numbers show that there are approximately 479 veterans experiencing homelessness in Denver County. Denver partnered with Built for Zero in 2015.
“This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration across the community to work together to identify each veteran in need of shelter and support,” Clement said in a statement. “Our work isn’t done. We understand it will be critical for us to continue working together to protect zero — and continue working toward a future where homelessness is rare and brief for all.”