# Lisa Feret

Lisa Feret (born July 31st, 1988) is an American politician and Social Worker. She has served as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives since January 2025, representing the 24th district, which includes portions of Adams and Jefferson counties, including the communities of Arvada and Fairmount. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Lisa is a community-focused individual with a diverse background in military service, disaster relief, and community support.

## Background

Feret was born in Hartford, Connecticut. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Colorado State University in 2013 and a Master of Social Work degree from Boston College in 2018. Prior to her appointment as the 24th district representative in January 2025, Lisa Feret was voted in office as an Arvada Councilwoman in November 2021. She married Eli Feret after meeting him while volunteering for Team Rubicon. They have a daughter named Elizabeth Carmen, whom they welcomed in 2023. In Feret's free time, she fosters dogs, enjoys gardening, and stays up to date on legislative issues.

## Issues in Focus
### Public Safety and Police

Lisa advocates for a comprehensive approach to crime prevention, emphasizing the implementation of innovative policies such as the mental health co-response model. This model promotes a coordinated response to mental health crises and individuals experiencing homelessness through collaboration between law enforcement and mental health professionals. She also supports early intervention strategies for low-level offenses to prevent escalation and enhance public safety.
Lisa endorses programs designed to alleviate poverty and promote self-sufficiency as a means of reducing crime. She is a proponent of initiatives such as One Small Step programs and supervised transitional housing, which have demonstrated positive outcomes in supporting individuals and contributing to overall community well-being.

### Healthcare

Lisa Feret has actively worked on behalf of older adults through her involvement in Jefferson County and state-level boards and committees, promoting policies that support aging populations. With experience as a case manager in low-income communities, assisted living facilities, and direct in-home care, Lisa recognizes the importance of building healthcare systems that are accessible and effective for all individuals. She supports efforts to expand the healthcare workforce and streamline the application and service request processes to improve overall accessibility. She advocates for the expansion of preventive healthcare coverage and early childhood support programs, emphasizing their role in fostering long-term well-being.
Lisa also supports community-based services that reduce costs by preventing homelessness and unnecessary hospitalizations. She remains committed to reforming healthcare policies for disabled and low-income individuals, promoting early intervention, proactive engagement, and educational initiatives to create a more inclusive and efficient healthcare system.

### Innovative Community and Housing Development

Lisa believes effective policies come from communities and organizations working together. With a background in housing advocacy, she helped pilot a home-sharing program to provide young adults with affordable living options to save for homeownership.
She supports policies that expand supportive housing, micro-loans, first-time homebuyer programs, nursing home reintegration, and smart zoning to encourage innovative housing solutions. She advocates for simplifying zoning policies and the development process to help small-scale developers improve housing availability.

### Children and Education

Feret has worked on programs serving vulnerable and disabled individuals, ensuring their effectiveness and accessibility. Her experience includes mentoring Colorado children with developmental disabilities, implementing universal applications for homeless students in schools, and developing a national ambassador program for higher education students.
Locally, Lisa collaborates with Arvada high schools through mock interviews, presentations, and student panels. She believes that strong educational foundations, expanded social support programs, and early interventions are key to reducing poverty and promoting self-sufficiency. She advocates for increased school funding to ensure all students receive the support they need.

### Emergency Management and Climate Advocacy

Lisa advocates for cross-sector collaboration to improve emergency response and promote sustainable practices that reduce waste and pollution. She supports cooperation between local, county, and state officials to strengthen emergency and climate policies. She emphasizes the importance of mitigation efforts, expanded recycling and emission-reduction programs, and educational initiatives. She also supports waste reduction strategies such as smart water sensors and efficient appliance exchanges to conserve resources.
With over a decade of emergency management experience and a Military Policewoman background, Lisa has managed city, county, state, and international crises. She has responded to wildfires and floods in Colorado and assisted in global crises, including the war in Ukraine and the Syrian refugee crisis. She advocates for greener policies and improved disaster preparedness through Wildfire Protection Planning Programs and public education initiatives.

### Small Businesses

Lisa has engaged with small businesses through the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, meeting over 100 local business owners to understand their challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she produced and donated over 120 gallons of hand sanitizer to help businesses stay open. She recognizes that business policies should be adaptable to different industries and sizes, a perspective shaped in part by her brother’s experience as a venue and restaurant owner. She also supports the growth of women- and minority-owned businesses. Lisa advocates for incentives encouraging climate-friendly and employee-supportive workplaces rather than unfunded mandates or punitive regulations.

### Veterans

Lisa has worked to support veterans through case management at CSU, mentorship programs, and advocacy for expanded resources. She has served on Congressman Perlmutter’s Veterans Advisory Council and is a member of the Jefferson County Veterans Democratic group, VETI. She is also involved in nonpartisan organizations such as Veterans for Political Innovation, Team Rubicon, VoteVets, and New Politics.
Lisa supports programs that promote veteran employment and strengthen transitional pathways into STEM, trade, and vocational careers.

## Key Activities and Accomplishments
### International Relief

Assisted in the evacuation of Ukrainian refugees to Poland following the Russian invasion.

### COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Supported the local Arvada community during the pandemic by producing and donating free hand sanitizer to local non-profits, healthcare organizations, businesses, and the Arvada police and fire departments.

### Disaster Relief

Worked with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster relief organization. She also participated in Team Rubicon's Clay Hunt Fellows Program

### Military Service

Enlisted in the Air Force at 17 and served in Cheyenne, Wyoming, from 2007 to 2010. Her primary responsibility was the security of a nuclear missile cache, protecting it from protesters and potential threats.

### Veterans Support

As a student at Colorado State University, she provided counseling to veterans transitioning from military service to college life. While at Boston College in 2016, she created a group for student veterans and sat on the executive committee for the BC Veterans Alumni Network.

### Affordable Housing Advocacy

During her internship with the Housing Innovation Lab in Boston, she managed a program that connects older adults with spare rooms to individuals in need of affordable housing.