Your thoughtful contributions are making an impact in Douglas County.
Thanks to your continued generosity to DouglasHasHeart.org, as part of the countywide “Handouts Don’t Help” campaign, a $2,500 donation was presented to the Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART) during a Douglas County Homeless Initiative meeting July 13 by the Douglas County Community Foundation, manager of the donor-directed fund. HEART will use the funds for current transportation needs, such as bus tickets and gas cards for people experiencing homelessness.
“Our citizens are generous, and they want to give to those in need. We are so grateful to our community partners – like the Douglas County Community Foundation – who ensure our citizens can give safely to a 501(c)(3) organization,” said Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon, who chairs the Douglas County Homeless Initiative. “We appreciate that the Douglas County Community Foundation is managing these donations at no cost, so 100% of your generosity to Handouts Don’t Help go directly to organizations helping people experiencing homelessness in our community, like HEART.”
HEART Navigators are subject matter experts, often with experience in behavioral and mental health or case management. They proactively and directly interact with those experiencing homelessness in a compassionate way. They gather information on needs, assess vulnerability, provide complete case management, and make referrals to appropriate community services.
Partnered with law enforcement, this community approach helps ensure people experiencing homelessness do not end up in emergency rooms or jail, but rather are directed to community services.
The Douglas County Homeless Initiative launched the campaign earlier this year to discourage panhandling and encourage donations to the Douglas Has Heart program. The donations directly benefit those in need via local nonprofits like the Help and Hope Center, Family Tree (GOALS), the Winter Shelter Network and the Douglas County Homeless Initiative.
So far in 2023, more than $5,000 in community donations has been given back to the program. $2,500 was presented to the Help and Hope Center in April.
Learn more about the Douglas County Homeless Initiative online and sign up for email updates. To donate, visit DouglasHasHeart.org and complete your transaction by clicking on the DONATE NOW button, taking you to the Douglas County Community Foundation’s website.