Two well-known entities will assume oversight and administration of a regional homelessness agency as of July 1, the board of the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care voted on March 18. The membership of the federally funded agency ratified the decision on Tuesday.

Pikes Peak United Way and the city of Colorado Springs will become leaders of the system, one of four continuums of care in the state.

The local entity is a federally recognized network of more than 100 organizations, agencies and community members that work together to prevent and address homelessness in the Pikes Peak region.

The Pikes Peak Continuum of Care, which covers El Paso and Teller counties, will continue to coordinate housing and services to meet immediate needs. The city and United Way will handle two programs that track and monitor who uses homeless services in the community, conduct the annual Point in Time census of the population, apply for federal funding and manage other mechanics of the role.

Such tasks have been performed for nearly the past eight years by the nonprofit organization ChangeLine, formerly Community Health Partnership.

“We’re stepping into an exciting new chapter of deeper collaboration, broader reach and shared commitment to moving this work together,” said Becky Treece, chair of the Continuum of Care board. “This is a powerful opportunity to align the legacy and influence of United Way with the city’s structural expertise.”

The transition will not affect federal funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and will not change the day-to-day operations through June 30, officials said.

“The work of the PPCoC is essential to the well-being of our community, and we’re honored to continue this important work,” Cami Bremer, president and CEO of Pikes Peak United Way, said in a statement. “Every day we hear from people who need help finding housing and services, and we’re committed to strengthening the infrastructure that connects them to that support.”

The city of Colorado Springs will lead the application process for federal funding and match spending with community priorities.

In fiscal year 2024, the local continuum of care received $3.6 million to fund permanent housing, supportive services and projects such as the Homeless Management Information System and the coordinated entry program.

The Pikes Peak Continuum of Care has been slated to receive about $5.06 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year; however, a legal challenge to proposed changes to the funding formula by the Trump administration has delayed distribution.

“The city is committed to being a strong partner in this work by aligning funding, strengthening coordination and supporting the infrastructure that makes a regional response possible,” said Aimee Cox, the city’s chief housing officer. 

The progression to select the new organizations to oversee the entity has been almost two years in the making, after ChangeLine decided in early 2024 to remove itself from leadership, officials said Tuesday.

A consultant assisted with the method and began soliciting applications last October, which an evaluation committee reviewed.

“A lot of this process involved a significant amount of listening, and that input shaped decision-making,” Treece said. “We were intentional in what we heard from the community and the long-term needs, the priorities, qualifications and demonstrated commitment.”

Going forward, she said, “Keeping the roles and functions aligned will promote efficiency and continuity.”