Gilpin County Human Services has been recognized by Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Executive Director Michelle Barnes for their outstanding work in improving the timeliness of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application processing.
In the summer of 2024, Governor Polis announced a Wildly Important Goal to increase the timeliness of SNAP eligibility determinations from 88% to 95% by June 2025. Thanks to the dedication of county Human Services departments across Colorado—including right here in Gilpin County—that goal was not only met, but exceeded, reaching 97% in June 2025.
This achievement has had a real impact across Colorado:
- 76,682 more Coloradans received timely SNAP approvals between February 2024 and June 2025.
- The number of people receiving benefits late dropped from 8,054 in January 2024 to just 1,400 in June 2025, helping improve food security for thousands of households.
On August 12, 2025, Governor Polis and Director Barnes hosted a special celebration at the Colorado State Capitol to honor counties for their role in this milestone. Gilpin County received a certificate of recognition for their contribution to this success.
“I’m so proud of the work of the Community Benefits Team and their tireless efforts to support our most vulnerable residents,” said Janey Barker, Director of Human Services.
Gilpin County congratulates the Human Services staff for their commitment to excellence and for helping ensure that residents can access healthy food and make their own choices with greater security and dignity.