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 27,000 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.

From Jan. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024, 64% of Veterans experiencing homelessness were housed within 98 days of being found in Douglas County, according to MDHI data.

Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon, the county’s lead homelessness liaison, said in a statement “our approach to homelessness is working in Douglas County … now, we have a pilot for using the Built for Zero framework across all populations.”

MDHI includes Douglas County in its annual homeless point-in-time count. The count, conducted on one day/night in late January, measures homelessness at a glimpse. Earlier this year, MDHI counted seven veterans experiencing homelessness in Douglas County, out of 80 total homeless people counted there either on the streets or in shelter.

“Functional Zero isn’t about achieving a ‘finish line’ but about maintaining ongoing efforts to serve Veterans with dignity and timeliness,” MDHI Regional Coordination Manager Sofia Vigil said. “Douglas County has shown us that Veteran homelessness can be made rare and brief.”

County officials attributed function zero success to reaching the “Quality By-Name Data” standard in October 2023. The database compiles a comprehensive, updated list of every homeless veteran in the community, according to Douglas County officials.

“Douglas County gained a powerful tool for tracking Veterans entering and exiting homelessness. This systematic approach ensures that everyone is included in the data,” county officials said in a statement.

In a separate, third party homeless point-in-time count in late July, Douglas County counted six people experiencing homelessness. This followed a two-year campaign against handing out money to panhandlers, decreasing the number of homeless people, from 43 to six, within that time frame.

Douglas County created what is the Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART). It is made up of county case managers and experts who engage homeless people on the streets. Instead of providing money to panhandlers, the county instead insists on donating that money to the resource team’s efforts.

HEART services include case management, housing opportunities and bus tickets to anywhere in the country.

“HEART navigators, paired with law enforcement, conducted regular outreach, building trust and guiding Veterans toward available resources,” county officials said.

“This incredible accomplishment by Douglas County is the result of their active engagement and prioritization of this work for over two years,” Missy Mish, Homeless Section Chief for VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, said in a statement. “Douglas County used grant funding to build a robust outreach team to identify and track Veterans through community-wide efforts. The VA is grateful for their collaboration and partnership in this life-saving work.”

Additionally, Douglas County is seeking $15 million in fundraising for plans to build “Heroes Hall,” a one-stop-shop for local veterans who need centralized services. The 14,000 square-foot building includes offices for Douglas County Veterans Service Office and the founding organizations – American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation.

Douglas County Commissioner George Teal, a veteran who served in desert storm, said veterans like himself still need services, regardless of lifestyle.

“It could be lonely being a veteran when you leave service and you’re out in a maybe a new community,” said of struggles while leaving the service. “Maybe it’s your home community. But now you’re not with your buddies anymore. You’re not in that regimented life.”