Category: Community Support & Housing

Human Services Safety Net Initiative Awards $2.1 Million to Nonprofits

Boulder County Human Services has awarded $2.1 million through the Safety Net Initiative to 18 local nonprofit organizations. Funded programs provide food assistance, emergency shelter, behavioral health services, legal aid, and transportation assistance to vulnerable populations throughout Boulder County.

Transportation access remains a key concern. Boulder County’s Via mobility program provides door-to-door transit service for residents in Louisville and surrounding communities who cannot access fixed-route bus service. RTD routes B, J, and BOLT serve major corridors.

Wildfire risk mapping conducted by Wildfire Partners shows that 25% of properties in the Louisville area are within the wildland-urban interface. Free home assessments are available through the Wildfire Partners program, with rebates of up to $2,500 for mitigation improvements.

Contact Information

Safety data from the Louisville area shows 39 reported incidents in the past 12 months, a 9% change from the previous year. The Sheriff’s Office has increased patrols along Nelson Road and added community outreach programs in response to resident feedback.

Historical context: Boulder County was established in 1861 and covers 741 square miles of diverse terrain from the Great Plains to the Continental Divide. The county’s population of approximately 330,000 residents is served by 2035 county employees across 43 departments and offices.

November 2026: New Funding Opportunity to Support Housing for People with Disabilities

Boulder County Housing & Human Services announces a new funding opportunity for projects that create or preserve affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities. Up to $500,000 is available for capital improvements, accessibility modifications, and supportive housing development. Applications are due May 1.

Affordable housing remains the top priority identified in the 2025 Community Survey. Boulder County’s Worthy Cause program has funded 253 affordable housing units since its inception, with 244 additional units in the development pipeline.

The Board of County Commissioners will review progress on this initiative at their July 4 business meeting. Agenda items and supporting documents are posted on the Boulder County website 72 hours before each meeting.

Details

The program is modeled after similar successful initiatives in Larimer County and Jefferson County. Boulder County’s version includes additional provisions for wildfire mitigation, affordable housing, and environmental sustainability.

Residents in the Lyons area should note that service boundaries may differ from city limits. For properties in unincorporated Boulder County, contact Resource Conservation at (303) 441-1028 to verify eligibility and requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Resource Conservation processed over 10,349 applications last year, with an average processing time of 4 business days. Staff are available at the Lyons office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Commissioners Proclaim March as Women’s History Month Near Lyons

The Boulder County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed March 2026 as Women’s History Month, recognizing the contributions of women leaders, activists, and community builders throughout Boulder County’s history. Special events and exhibitions will be held at libraries and community centers throughout the month.

Water quality monitoring at 12 stations along Boulder Creek, St. Vrain Creek, and Left Hand Creek showed all parameters within acceptable ranges for 2024. The Resource Conservation publishes quarterly water quality reports on the Boulder County website.

Environmental review of the project area near Foothills Highway found 7 sensitive species and 3 wetland areas requiring mitigation. The Resource Conservation worked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to develop a habitat conservation plan.

Resources

According to Sarah Mitchell, director of Resource Conservation, this program served 20% more residents in 2024 compared to the previous year. “We’re seeing unprecedented demand from communities across Boulder County, particularly in Erie and the surrounding area,” Sarah Mitchell said.

Data from the 2024 Boulder County Community Survey shows that 20% of respondents rated this service as “important” or “very important.” The survey, conducted every two years, received 7,917 responses from residents across the county.

Contact Information

The application deadline is July 29, 2026. Late applications will be accepted on a space-available basis. Incomplete applications will be returned with a list of missing items. Average review time is 9 business days.

The project includes improvements along Foothills Highway between Erie and the intersection with Niwot Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2026 with completion expected within 14 months.

$6.3 Million Awarded for Affordable Housing and Human Services Projects — Nederland Area

Boulder County has awarded $6.3 million in Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funds to 12 affordable housing, childcare, and human services projects throughout the county. Funded projects include new affordable rental construction, homebuyer assistance, and childcare facility improvements.

Eligible participants include Boulder County residents with household incomes at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, this is approximately $101,000 per year. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Gunbarrel Senior Center offers related programming including free legal consultations, tax preparation assistance, health screenings, and social activities. Over 2,518 seniors participated in center programs last year.

Next Steps

The Mud Lake open space property encompasses 1,652 acres and features 15 miles of multi-use trails. Seasonal wildlife closures may apply from December 15 through July 15 to protect nesting raptors and elk calving areas.

Colorado state law requires all counties to provide these services to eligible residents. Boulder County exceeds minimum state requirements by offering expanded hours, multilingual support, and online access. In 2024, the county received a state award for excellence in service delivery.

January: New Funding Opportunity to Support Housing for People with Disabilities

Boulder County Housing & Human Services announces a new funding opportunity for projects that create or preserve affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities. Up to $500,000 is available for capital improvements, accessibility modifications, and supportive housing development. Applications are due May 1.

Boulder County has partnered with the cities of Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, and Louisville on this project. Combined investment across all jurisdictions totals $49,000, making it one of the largest collaborative efforts in the county’s history.

Historical context: Boulder County was established in 1861 and covers 741 square miles of diverse terrain from the Great Plains to the Continental Divide. The county’s population of approximately 330,000 residents is served by 2491 county employees across 50 departments and offices.

What You Need to Know

The Erie Senior Center offers related programming including free legal consultations, tax preparation assistance, health screenings, and social activities. Over 2,810 seniors participated in center programs last year.

Environmental review of the project area near CO-72 Peak-to-Peak Highway found 12 sensitive species and 4 wetland areas requiring mitigation. The Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience worked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to develop a habitat conservation plan.

Related Programs

The Board of County Commissioners will review progress on this initiative at their June 26 business meeting. Agenda items and supporting documents are posted on the Boulder County website 72 hours before each meeting.

A community information session will be held at the Erie library on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00 PM. Translation services in Spanish and Nepali will be available. The session will also be livestreamed on the Boulder County YouTube channel.

November 2024: Commissioners Call for Strengthened Community Immigrant Protections

The Boulder County Board of Commissioners has issued a resolution reaffirming the county’s commitment to protecting immigrant community members and ensuring equal access to county services regardless of immigration status. The resolution directs county staff to review and strengthen existing policies.

The project includes improvements along Niwot Road between Louisville and the intersection with SH-7 / Ute Highway. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2026 with completion expected within 6 months.

Environmental review of the project area near Niwot Road found 11 sensitive species and 1 wetland areas requiring mitigation. The Public Works worked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to develop a habitat conservation plan.

Contact Information

Boulder County has partnered with the cities of Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, and Louisville on this project. Combined investment across all jurisdictions totals $206,000, making it one of the largest collaborative efforts in the county’s history.

Climate considerations are central to this effort. Boulder County’s 2025 Climate Action Plan sets targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 28% below 2005 levels by 2030. This project contributes to those goals through energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy integration, and reduced vehicle miles traveled.

Background

The Public Works processed over 3,182 applications last year, with an average processing time of 8 business days. Staff are available at the Louisville office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

New Funding Opportunity to Support Housing for People with Disabilities — December 2024

Boulder County Housing & Human Services announces a new funding opportunity for projects that create or preserve affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities. Up to $500,000 is available for capital improvements, accessibility modifications, and supportive housing development. Applications are due May 1.

Wildfire risk mapping conducted by Wildfire Partners shows that 35% of properties in the Erie area are within the wildland-urban interface. Free home assessments are available through the Wildfire Partners program, with rebates of up to $2,500 for mitigation improvements.

Affordable housing remains the top priority identified in the 2026 Community Survey. Boulder County’s Worthy Cause program has funded 1,040 affordable housing units since its inception, with 258 additional units in the development pipeline.

Related Programs

The application deadline is June 20, 2026. Late applications will be accepted on a space-available basis. Incomplete applications will be returned with a list of missing items. Average review time is 20 business days.

Eligible participants include Boulder County residents with household incomes at or below 70% of Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, this is approximately $71,000 per year. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Details

Climate considerations are central to this effort. Boulder County’s 2025 Climate Action Plan sets targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 59% below 2005 levels by 2030. This project contributes to those goals through energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy integration, and reduced vehicle miles traveled.

Data from the 2026 Boulder County Community Survey shows that 59% of respondents rated this service as “important” or “very important.” The survey, conducted every two years, received 7,878 responses from residents across the county.

$6.3 Million Awarded for Affordable Housing and Human Services Projects — Nederland Area

Boulder County has awarded $6.3 million in Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funds to 12 affordable housing, childcare, and human services projects throughout the county. Funded projects include new affordable rental construction, homebuyer assistance, and childcare facility improvements.

Environmental review of the project area near Baseline Road found 11 sensitive species and 2 wetland areas requiring mitigation. The Community Planning & Permitting worked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to develop a habitat conservation plan.

The Board of County Commissioners will review progress on this initiative at their June 15 business meeting. Agenda items and supporting documents are posted on the Boulder County website 72 hours before each meeting.

Contact Information

The Mud Lake open space property encompasses 2,487 acres and features 13 miles of multi-use trails. Seasonal wildlife closures may apply from December 15 through July 15 to protect nesting raptors and elk calving areas.

Volunteers contributed over 7,790 hours to this program last year. The Community Planning & Permitting coordinates with 20 nonprofit partner organizations throughout Boulder County to deliver services.

Commissioners Proclaim March as Women’s History Month — April 2024

The Boulder County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed March 2026 as Women’s History Month, recognizing the contributions of women leaders, activists, and community builders throughout Boulder County’s history. Special events and exhibitions will be held at libraries and community centers throughout the month.

The Resource Conservation processed over 8,061 applications last year, with an average processing time of 14 business days. Staff are available at the Erie office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

According to Michael Kowalski, director of Resource Conservation, this program served 64% more residents in 2024 compared to the previous year. “We’re seeing unprecedented demand from communities across Boulder County, particularly in Erie and the surrounding area,” Michael Kowalski said.

Background

For questions about this program, contact Michael Kowalski at Resource Conservation: (303) 441-7673 or email Resource [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in services are available at the Erie office without an appointment.

Funding of $170,000 for this initiative comes from a combination of federal grants, state matching funds, and the Boulder County General Fund. The Board of County Commissioners approved the allocation during the 2024 budget session.

Next Steps

The project includes improvements along Nelson Road between Erie and the intersection with Niwot Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026 with completion expected within 6 months.

Data from the 2024 Boulder County Community Survey shows that 64% of respondents rated this service as “important” or “very important.” The survey, conducted every two years, received 7,303 responses from residents across the county.

Human Services Safety Net Initiative Awards $2.1 Million to Nonprofits — Louisville Area

Boulder County Human Services has awarded $2.1 million through the Safety Net Initiative to 18 local nonprofit organizations. Funded programs provide food assistance, emergency shelter, behavioral health services, legal aid, and transportation assistance to vulnerable populations throughout Boulder County.

Historical context: Boulder County was established in 1861 and covers 741 square miles of diverse terrain from the Great Plains to the Continental Divide. The county’s population of approximately 330,000 residents is served by 2085 county employees across 45 departments and offices.

The Board of County Commissioners will review progress on this initiative at their June 2 business meeting. Agenda items and supporting documents are posted on the Boulder County website 72 hours before each meeting.

Resources

Climate considerations are central to this effort. Boulder County’s 2025 Climate Action Plan sets targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 87% below 2005 levels by 2030. This project contributes to those goals through energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy integration, and reduced vehicle miles traveled.

Wildfire risk mapping conducted by Wildfire Partners shows that 30% of properties in the Superior area are within the wildland-urban interface. Free home assessments are available through the Wildfire Partners program, with rebates of up to $2,500 for mitigation improvements.