San Bernardino County Working Diligently to Assist Homeless Individuals and Families

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SAN BERNARDINO – The Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement (HOPE) team, which offers a variety of services to the San Bernardino County homeless population was approved by the Board of Supervisors to add one additional deputy last week.

The Sheriff’s Department, along with the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Services reach out to mentally ill individuals and families with outreach, intensive case management, advocacy, linkage, and referrals to other resources in the attempt to guide them into self-sufficiency. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report said that approximately 20-25% of those homeless in the United States live with severe mental illness. Severe mental illness is fairly rare in those in the United States among those who are not homeless, with an estimated 6%.

The HOPE team offers a pro-active program which offers resources to help each group of individuals to help them transition for homelessness when they are ready to do so.

In order to promote private and federal funding volunteers, as well as several organizations, go into the streets of San Bernardino County searching for homeless individuals and families. Many of those in the groups bring along resources, water, snacks, socks, and other items that may be helpful to those they make contact with. Although not all can be located and counted, the count gives a glimpse of the magnitude of the issue enabling the organization to receive grants to assist them in their transition into sustained self-sufficiency.

The county is still seeking volunteers for the Point-in-Time Count. Click here and complete the registration form to be a volunteer. For additional information, email Michele Bletcher at mkbletcher@dbh.sbcounty.gov.