Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s annual count confirms: No one is unsheltered in unincorporated Douglas County

Thanks to the efforts of Douglas County’s Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART), Douglas County has effectively ended unsheltered homelessness in Highlands Ranch and all other unincorporated areas of the county, a report from the Denver Metro Homeless Initiative confirmed today.

HEART is Douglas County’s innovative, compassionate response to homelessness. Launched in 2022, HEART pairs trained Navigators with local law enforcement to proactively assist individuals experiencing homelessness.

Each winter, the HEART team completes a Point in Time (PIT) count – an unduplicated count on a single night of the people in a community who are experiencing homelessness. This year, the count occurred on Jan. 26, 2026.

During the Jan. 26 count, outreach teams identified zero individuals living unsheltered in unincorporated Douglas County. Those numbers were submitted to the Denver Metro Homeless Initiative, which confirmed the county’s count with the release of their data today. Read their report online.

This accomplishment is thanks to the hard work of HEART throughout the past year. In 2025, the Douglas County HEART team:

• Achieved 1,501 proactive outreach attempts
• Housed and sheltered 327 participants
• Served a total of 332 individuals

Highlands Ranch joins a growing list of local communities that have achieved this milestone, including Meridian Village, The Pinery, Stonegate, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Larkspur, Sedalia, Roxborough, Sterling Ranch, and Franktown.

Douglas Commissioners will recognize these communities – and launch their Project Zero recognition – during a regular Business Meeting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.

Across Douglas County as a whole, the PIT count found:

• Four people living unsheltered outdoors
• 18 people sleeping in their vehicles
• 23 people staying in temporary or emergency shelter

The count also identified no encampments larger than one person and no panhandlers.

Of the individuals living outside or sleeping in vehicles, 12 were located in Parker and 10 in Castle Rock.

“This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our HEART team and the many partners who work alongside them every day,” said Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon. “Their proactive outreach ensures that when someone in our community is struggling, we connect them to resources quickly and compassionately.”

If you see someone who needs HEART’s help, call or text 303-660-7301.

Learn more about how Douglas County is addressing homelessness by visiting the Homeless Initiative webpage.

About the Point In Time Count
The PIT is a federally mandated annual census conducted by local Continuums of Care (COCs) to count sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in late January.

This count provides a snapshot of homelessness, including demographics and subpopulation data, which helps the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocate funding and monitor trends over time. The PIT Count also helps local communities measure progress toward reducing homelessness and identify gaps in existing systems of care.

Since the Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART) began operating in 2022, the PIT Count has been conducted twice per year in collaboration with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, local municipal law enforcement agencies, and nonprofit partnerships.