Outreach Fort Collins

Outreach Fort Collins is a dedicated team, committed to making a positive impact in our community. Built by a taskforce of concerned partners, we launched in June of 2016 with the goal of specializing in street outreach, working to engage individuals experiencing homelessness and address related impacts. We work hard to build collaborative relationships, listen with empathy, and provide effective solutions that create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone.

We are a professionally staffed, on-the-street team that builds relationships with individuals  experiencing homelessness, community members, service providers, businesses, police services and first responders, and city services as a means to address and deescalate disruptive behaviors.

Highlights

-This last year we completed another round of Strategic Operations planning. During this time our staff and board identified a new Mission statement for OFC, and we created a vision statement for the first time:

       Mission: Reducing the impacts of homelessness through collaborative, compassionate street-based outreach.

      Vision: A thriving, caring, and inclusive community.

-In 2024 we became our own independent 501(c)(3). Through much hard work and dedication from our former director, staff, and board OFC transitioned to an independent nonprofit. For our initial 8 years we acted under the fiscal sponsor, Colorado Nonprofit Development Center. This was a great way to launch our program, but as we grew it meant it was time to spread our wings and become independent. Independence  allows for direct giving to OFC, and increased control over our long-term programs and sustainability.

-Focus on Regional Collaboration-Since early 2024 we have had a Transformational Homelessness Response grant from the Department of Local Affairs at the state level. This grant has been used support regional collaboration with partners doing street outreach. Much work has been done to coordinate  and grow partnerships with new street outreach programs in Greeley and Loveland, and we've connected and shadowed with teams in Denver, Canyon City, and throughout Southern Colorado.

Quotes from our clients:

 "They're very helpful, and Outreach is a good name for them because they have the ability to reach out and help somebody very quickly. I've been homeless for 20 years off and on and I appreciate the help. When you see them walking down the street and it says Outreach, remember they have lots of power. If you need help, just ask them!"     -TS, a formerly homeless client

"Outreach Fort Collins did way more than I could have hoped for to help me get out of homelessness. They were very helpful with the proceedings in court that I encountered with the judicial system, such as camping tickets and being a public nuisance."  -RD, a formerly homeless client

"What stands out is how friendly you guys have always been. You've always been welcoming and you've always been supportive of everything we do, even when it's something that you don't agree with. I know when I was staying under the bridge for a while you guys helped me out a lot. That was a really rough time in my life and you guys were one of the main people that were actually there for me. You guys came and helped me with just being an ear and someone for me to talk to. That was the main thing that helped me through that time."-TK, a formerly homeless client