The H.E.A.R.T.
of Santa Ana PD
Based on a study conducted by National Alliance to End Homelessness
in 2011, California is home to over 135,000 homeless men, women
and children. The city of Santa Ana alone is home to over 600 of
these individuals. Chief Rojas from the Santa Ana Police Department
explains “since the early 1990’s the city of Santa Ana has battled
an increasingly rising homeless population. We knew we had to do
something to change not only the perception our officers had on the
homeless, but also what the homeless thought of law enforcement.”
S
anta Ana’s Civic Center houses
over 90 percent of their homeless
population. In November of 2012,
Santa Ana PD launched a new
community outreach program
entitled Homeless Evaluation/Assessment Response Team (H.E.A.R.T.). The
H.E.A.R.T. program is a collaborative
relationship between the Santa Ana PD
and local non-profit organizations. The
program focuses on providing sustainable solutions beyond the short-term
solutions offered through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Santa Ana
PD recognizes that the criminalization of homeless individuals is
not a solution to the city’s ever-growing homeless population. Realizing that while enforcement is still needed to maintain public safety, cleanliness and order in the Civic Center and surrounding areas
where homelessness is prevalent, they searched for more long-term
solutions and alternatives that prevent homeless individuals from
having continuous contact with the police.
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California Police Chief | www.californiapolicechiefs.org