Douglas County Launches Douglas Has HEART Fund to Support Homeless Outreach

Douglas County is asking residents and businesses to route generosity through a new fundraising drive called Douglas Has HEART to support immediate needs for people experiencing homelessness. The campaign, announced by the Douglas County Homeless Initiative, is framed as part of a countywide "Handouts Don’t Help" effort that encourages donations to organized services rather than giving cash on the street.

The Douglas County Community Foundation manages the donor-directed fund and says local partners include Help & Hope Center, Family Tree (GOALS), Winter Shelter Network, CORE, the City of Castle Pines, the Town of Castle Rock and Sterling Ranch. The program’s stated purpose is to back the Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART) and to funnel resources to nonprofits that handle food, emergency assistance and shelter operations.

Douglas County reported that "so far in 2023, more than $5,000 in community donations has been given back to the program." Specific distributions cited by county officials include a $2,500 check presented to the Help & Hope Center in April 2023 and a $2,500 donation presented to HEART during a Douglas County Homeless Initiative meeting on July 13, 2023. The county said HEART will use the funds "for current transportation needs, such as bus tickets and gas cards for people experiencing homelessness."

Help & Hope Center described a record service year, reporting "nearly 32,000 served" and "over 1 million pounds of food," and told campaign organizers that donations help cover food purchases and emergency assistance. Douglas County Community Foundation messaging notes that donor gifts are intended to support food purchasing and operational needs when given as unrestricted contributions.

Kirsten Swanson, executive director of the Douglas County Community Foundation, has been active in presenting checks and promoting the fund. Swanson said the foundation had not yet raised additional funds since a prior distribution but was "a thousand dollars away from the next check" and urged partners to help publicize the campaign.

Residents can donate online through the campaign’s donation page, which directs payments to the community foundation’s secure processing. To give by mail, make checks payable to "Douglas County Community Foundation" and send to: Douglas County Community Foundation, Attn: Douglas Has Heart Fund, 11479 S Pine Drive, Parker, CO 80134. The foundation assures donors that "100% of your gift will help provide needed resources to organizations in Douglas County working to address homelessness issues in our community" and that payment data is PCI certified.

Practical service notes posted alongside the campaign remind residents of a separate DMV system upgrade: online driver license and motor vehicle services will be offline beginning the evening of Friday, Feb. 13, with system re-launch and limited office hours for testing on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

For Douglas County residents, the campaign means a clearer route for local giving that targets transportation, food and emergency aid through established providers. Expect additional distributions as the community foundation reaches fundraising thresholds and partners continue to publicize the push to replace handouts with directed support.