1. HOPE team Homeless Outreach Positive Encounters
“Encouraging Hope for today; restoring lives of tomorrow!”
Trayendo la esperanza a la vida!

2. sapdhopeteam@sanantonio
Officers Joe Farris & Monty McCann &

3. What we did CIT= the model
Teamwork- the collaboration between mental health providers and first responders
Responding to those in crisis
Homeless & un-sheltered
Multiple challenges to this population
Mental health
Physical health
Shelter
Food
Clothing
Employment
identification

4. Approaching the un-approachable
Traditionally-inreach vs. outreach
Starting January of 2016
HOPE Team
Haven for Hope-4 outreach specialists
Veterans outreach-3 specialists
SAM Ministries- 2 specialists
CoSA Department of Human services- 2 members
Spring of 2017
Train 175 officers from the Sapd: saffe, park police & airport police

5. Approaching the un-approachable
Encampment clean-ups
The past was not to give any warning
Today- DHS, SAPD SAFFE, code compliance, public works & outreach collaborate and coordinate clean ups; often working together up to two weeks before a clean-up to allow time to move or accept services.

6. How we did it- collaboration
Leg work
We plugged ourselves into the network of service providers
We collaborate with:
Mental health-in patient 7 out patient
Hospitals & clinics
Shelters
Food bank & pantries
Clothing closets
Faith based community
Employment programs
Jail diversion
Municipal courts
Non-profits
Veterans affairs
Case managers
Social workers
Animal control services
Addiction counselors
Probation & parole

7. How we did it- contact

8. How we did it- contact

9. What we do- communication
We focus on outreach of individuals in the field to direct them to services.
We are a mobile coordinated entry unit for housing first & permanent supportive housing programs.
We help navigate clients through the process with service providers. Warm hand-offs.
We coordinate efforts and communications between network providers to reduce a gap in the continuum of care during recovery. Warm hand-offs.

10. What we do We respond to those in crisis.
We are the eyes and ears out in the field.
We provide feedback to network partners about the perceptions of their operational mission.
We gather intelligence that is passed on to follow up units. * no intent to criminalize homeless.
We help locate clients for network partners.

11. What we do
We are a mobile ‘triage’ team that assesses the client through casual engagement of conversation to identify all of their needs; then to prioritize those needs to address them accordingly.
We provide the service of id recovery: birth certificate, id/dl & social security cards.

12. What we do We Developed an id recovery service.
Through the law enforcement’s identification unit, identification is verified through fingerprint comparison of a criminal history.
Law enforcement agency then provides a certified letter verifying a person’s identity.
Negotiate acceptance of id letter with local vital records office and dps office.
Birth certificate and state id may now be obtained which leads to a social security card.

13. What we do

14. What we do
Accountability vs Assistance= a balanced effort. Ultimate good cop, bad cop. A uniformed presence within the community for accountability of behavior, then hope presence for assistance and promotion of services.
We coordinate with our sapd property room to re- purpose disposable property to service providers.

15. where
We focus our effort in the downtown where 40% of the homeless population is concentrated.
We receive referrals from network partners.
Our vision is to be citywide through building an information and training network within the patrol division of the department. The other 60%.

16. The bottom line We applied the 3 c’s to homelessness
Contact- where they are
Collaboration- working with the network of providers
Communication- everyone on the same page to provide a better continuum of care
First responders are more likely to be in contact and stay in contact with the homeless community.
Educating and informing first responders on homeless needs and services provides a better service to the community.
Training and education allows for changing bias and prejudice.

17. Why we do it Because we care! To protect and to serve!
We are attempting to overcome cultural stigmas & bias of perceptions. Change is challenging. We want to challenge the perceptions of both communities of: law enforcement & homeless.

18. Why we do it

19. Why we do it

20. Why we do it

21. Why we do it

22. Sapd hope team
Officers Joe Farris & Monty McCann &