Overview
Boulder County is committed to ending homelessness by increasing housing options and access to supportive services. Working together, these two strategies — housing and support — help people move out of homelessness and stay housed.
Elected officials from cities and towns across Boulder County work together to find regional solutions. Their goal is to make homelessness rare, brief, and one-time. This work is guided by compassion, fairness, and a belief that everyone deserves a safe place to live.
The county’s approach focuses on solving the root causes of homelessness. Efforts include:
- Prevention: helping people stay housed through rental assistance and other supports.
- Crisis response: offering shelter and outreach to those in need.
- Long-term stability: providing case management and supportive services that help people remain housed.
All of this work is based on data, equity, and strong partnerships across the community.
In 2025, Boulder County invested $18.2 million to support residents affected by homelessness. Since 2020, county programs have permanently housed 1,821 people and helped prevent many others from losing their homes. Boulder County remains committed to long-term solutions that meet people’s needs.
Regional Collaboration
In May 2024, Boulder County hosted a regional summit on homelessness with local elected officials. As a follow-up, a Regional Elected Officials Working Group on Homelessness was formed. The group, chaired by Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin, includes representatives from every city and town in the county.
The working group meets regularly to share ideas and align local strategies. Their top priorities for 2025–2026 are:
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs):
- Make it easier for homeowners to build ADUs or backyard cottages.
- Create shared designs and faster permit approvals across cities.
- Offer financial support and promote small, minority-, and women-owned contractors.
- Track ADU growth over time.
- Tiny Homes with Supportive Services:
- Study the Austin model of tiny home communities with on-site services.
- Identify locations and funding options for a similar project in Boulder County.
- Permanent Supportive Housing:
- Set a goal for each city and town to dedicate 10–12% of new affordable housing to permanent supportive housing.
- Report progress each year and address challenges where goals are not met.
2025 Working Group Members
Chair: Commissioner Marta Loachamin, Boulder County
Members:
- Councilmember Nicole Samson, City of Lafayette
- Councilmember Barbara Hamlington, City of Louisville
- Councilmember Jenn Kaaoush, Town of Superior
- Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts, City of Boulder
- Mayor Pro Tem Susie Hidalgo-Fahring, City of Longmont
- Trustee Tanya Daty, Town of Lyons
- Mayor Billy Giblin, Town of Nederland
- Councilmember Emily Baer, Town of Erie