Building on previous projects in Missoula, MT and Grand Junction area, CO, the JG team is working with Homeward Alliance, Larimer County, and various partners to develop a strategic plan to strengthen Larimer County’s homeless response system. While similar in focus to the Unhoused Needs Assessment and Strategy Report JG completed for the Grand Junction area in 2024, this project encompasses a significantly larger and more urban population area—over double that of Mesa County—which presents new challenges and opportunities for the JG team.
The project began in the Fall of 2024 and aims to create a unified and collaborative vision among local governments, service providers, and community stakeholders to ensure a coordinated, countywide approach to responding to and alleviating homelessness in the region. The regional strategy will seek to enhance system efficiency by streamlining services, addressing key gaps, and identifying opportunities to effectively allocate resources to improve equitable access. A key priority in ensuring the project’s success is generating broad community buy-in across the county. Additionally, JG plans to develop a data-driven accountability framework to support the community in tracking progress, adapting strategies as needed, and ensuring continuous improvement in reducing the experience of homelessness across the region.
To achieve the project goals, JG has established a two-phase project plan: 1) An assessment of the current homeless response system, and 2) A multi-pronged strategic planning process. JG’s assessment includes analyzing primary qualitative data, administrative data gathered through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the county’s coordinated entry system, and secondary economic and demographic population-level datasets. The goal of the assessment phase is to provide a strong foundation for the strategic planning process by characterizing current conditions, pinpointing gaps, and informing strategies to build an effective response framework. To complement the team’s analytical expertise, JG is collaborating with Denver-based OMNI Institute, who will provide valuable guidance and facilitation support throughout the strategic planning process.
The JG team is currently wrapping up the assessment phase of the project and will formally launch the strategic planning phase with an in-person visit to Larimer County in March. The finalized strategic plan is expected to be completed in Fall 2025.