Homeless Outreach Team
23
2019 was monumental for the Homeless
Outreach Team (HOT). HOT has continued to
positively impact the transient related calls for
service from Patrol so they are available to
respond to higher priority calls. Additionally,
their work has expanded to include relief for
other county resources inundated with transient
requests for service. El Dorado County is one of
few counties in the state that has extremely
limited treatment or housing options available.
HOT continues to assist the county’s transient
population in connecting with other county
resources and appropriate services that they
qualify for. It is HOT’s primary goal to find more
permanent housing solutions for any and all who
are willing to help themselves. The intention is
to provide total care for community members
who request it and to apply total enforcement in
those situations where it is appropriate.
This year, HOT received the California State
Association of Counties (CSAC) Challenge
Award. CSAC's annual statewide program
honors innovation and best practices in county
government. This year, CSAC received 284
entries - the second largest number in the
program's history. HOT was 1 of 16 others chosen
to receive this prestigious award.
Since HOT’s inception, they have worked to
perform a needs assessment of the county’s
homeless population and identify opportunities
to impact the cycle of homelessness. Their
efforts include interacting on an individual level,
building relationships and offering services,
+hile overcoming the barrier between homeless
and law enforcement officers.
The most significant challenges HOT faced were
the limited resources within the county and the
need to provide transportation to and from
various services and/or programs for multiple
individuals. This obligation of time was also
detrimental to HOT’s commitment of maintaining
personal contact in the field. It was determined
that a more global approach was needed to
connect the homeless with the services
necessary to end the cycle of homelessness.
HOT’s solution was to bring all necessary service
providers directly to the homeless population.
HOT now has a functioning mobile outreach
trailer that provides all of the modern
conveniences of an office environment;
allowing the various service providers to work
remotely in the field. The development of this
cooperative effort has fostered many
relationships throughout the county, including
Placerville Police Department’s integration with
the Homeless Outreach Team. Together, we are
working to establish a long term, sustainable
model that addresses the needs of the homeless
where they are.
To date, HOT has reduced the overall homeless
population in the county by 92% (based on the
original target population). Through 2019, HOT
has been able to assist 171 persons to
rehabilitation facilities, transitional housing or
family reunification.