In a county of over 400,000 people located 25 miles south of Denver, there are little to no veterans experiencing homelessness, Douglas County officials announce this Veterans Day.
Or, at least when veterans are homeless, it is rare and brief in Douglas County, according to county and Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) data.
Aside from claiming the county has solved homelessness overall, Douglas County officials said Monday they have achieved “functional zero” when it comes to veterans needing a place to live.
Over 20,000 veterans live in Douglas County, roughly 7.7% of the county’s population, according to county census.
Douglas County, with the approval from metro Denver’s largest homeless data provider, announced Monday they have reached the homeless veterans functional zero milestone.
Functional zero, a milestone through nonprofit’s Community Solutions Built for Zero program, is sought nationwide and by local elected officials, including Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, to measurably solve and maintain housing for specific homeless populations. Functional zero for veteran homelessness, as defined by Community Solutions, means less veterans are homeless than can be housed in a month at a minimum threshold of three veterans.