The Ivanhoe Development (ID) team has been honored to work with Outreach Fort Collins over the past two years to increase funding and implement program design and evaluation improvements. In 2024, Outreach Fort Collins received a $250,000 Transformational Homelessness Response (THR) Grant from the State of Colorado’s Office of Homeless Initiatives. ID is thrilled to have secured the funding and will provide design and evaluation implementation support for this project. 

Established in 2016, Outreach Fort Collins's (OFC) mission is to maintain the community as a safe and welcoming place, connecting those needing services and supportive networks. Their work offers an alternative to police intervention for individuals experiencing homelessness focused on building trusted relationships and lasting solutions toward stability. 

Individuals experiencing homelessness often require complex care, a compassion-first approach, and the collaboration of street outreach teams across multiple municipalities. Homelessness in Northern Colorado continues to rise, with 4,458 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2023 (Northern Colorado Continuum of Care Point-in-Time Count 2024). 

The project will create Street Outreach Best Practices across Larimer and Weld counties. Street Outreach teams from the cities of Loveland and Greeley have begun shadowing and learning from Outreach Fort Collins over the past 8 months as they establish and build capacity within their teams. 

OFC’s Regional Collaboration Lead, Kaylee Wieczorek, said this about the work she hopes to accomplish through this project:

“I have met with five different outreach teams throughout the region and state, from Greeley to Cortez. In making these connections, I have found myself filled with awe and appreciation for the dedication of individuals and organizations to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and to make their communities a better place. Coupled with feelings of appreciation comes excitement for what greater collaborative efforts could mean (at both the regional and even national level). I am excited to work together to develop innovative ideas. I am excited to make connections that deepen our understanding of what other teams are doing and how and why.” 

Ivanhoe Development looks forward to partnering with Outreach Fort Collins as they expand their work and partnerships across the region. Find out more about their impact here.