Vision & Purpose
Our aim is that people in the tri-county area have access to safe and sustainable solutions for preventing and ending experiences of homelessness.
The Valley Alliance to End Homelessness (VAEH) was formed in 2022 to address issues related to housing insecurity and the needs of those experiencing homelessness. The VAEH believes a regional continuum of coordinated and accessible resources, guided by a shared housing-first approach, is the foundation for preventing and ending homelessness in Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties.
All partners are committed to ensuring that homelessness is a rare, brief and one-time experience and that services are accessible, effective, efficient.
Homelessness is an issue in the West Mountain Region
On any given night, there are roughly 150 people in the tri-county area that are without shelter. These individuals may be seen but most likely are invisible except to the agencies that interact with them on a routine basis as they work to meet their basic needs.
Due to the seasonal, mobile, and sometimes chronic aspects of homelessness, a long-term, comprehensive strategy was needed to address the complex needs and find funding, understand the problem with data, engage more voices and entities, and coordinate efforts already underway.
The VAEH has created a 3-yr Strategic Plan (2023-2026) to accomplish the following goals:
- Reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness to achieve functional zero by 2026.
- Ensure safe and stable housing to meet the diverse needs of those experiencing homelessness.
- Collaboratively deliver the Built for Zero approach, consistently using housing first principles throughout the system.
- Demonstrate continuous system performance improvement annually.
- Achieve philanthropic and local government support equal to annual HUD funding.
The VAEH is a coalition of local service agencies, county and city governments, healthcare providers, and non profits committed to seeking shared regional solutions on the strategic priorities of the partners.
How the VAEH is organized
Governance
Representatives from the larger coalition makeup a governance group committed to ensure that the strategic direction and strategic goals of the VAEH are appropriate, actionable, and resourced. Each member organization actively participates to collaboratively identify root causes, map system needs, develop solutions for ciritical issues, and bring resources to the table.
Partners that make up the VAEH are committed to developing critical allies and making use of every tool and experience to try to reach the aim of reducing homelessness in the region.
- We partner with Colorado's Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing to coordinate resources, strategy, and data-sharing
- We partner with national efforts such as Built For Zero and Community Solutions to help understand and improve our systems of response.
- We make use of Housing and Urban Development's Homeless Management Information System tool to help improve services and know who is entering the area and how to direct them to resources.
- We strengthen the referral system among the wide variety of agencies that are offering services in mental and behavioral health, housing, and food because housing is usually one of many needs for homeless individuals and families.
- We seek to advocate for more housing options for short-term and long-term needs by directing funding and working with landlords.
- We set benchmarks for ourselves like reaching functionally zero homelessness in the region and continuously learn and evolve to understand what is driving homelessness and how to prevent and address it.
Continuum of Care
WMRHA, VAEH, and service agencies participate in a coordinated entry system to help identify housing solutions, assess needs, and match those with needs of individuals and families in the system. Coordination is carried out through Case Conferencing sessions and convening service partners to improve the system that is designed to reduce homelessness in our region.
Tracking our Progress
VAEH partners have helped hundreds of people find housing and keep them housed by matching needs with available resources, leveraging more resources, strengthening providers, and sharing information.
WMRHA maintains a dashboard on behalf of the VAEH in order to track key metrics so partners and funders can track the difference that is being made.
Garfield County
Catholic Charities logo
Health-Solutions-West-Logo
Pitkin County logo
Salvation Army Logo
WMRHA
Recovery Resources
Eagle County
Contact us to join an initiative
or
Learn more about our partners
and how your group, agency, or organization
can get involved