A San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputy makes contact with an unhoused individual in the Victorville area.
On Friday, Jan. 17, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Sheriff’s Community Service & Reentry Division’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement Team (H.O.P.E.) conducted “Operation Shelter Me” in the city of Victorville.
This initiative aims to connect staff with unhoused residents, offering them housing, medical and mental health treatment services. During this operation, the team focused on individuals with significant mental illnesses to link them to restorative mental health pathways.
Operation Highlights:
- The H.O.P.E. Team located 41 individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Thirty individuals received referrals to assistance programs.
- Twenty-one individuals were assisted with follow-up professional services.
- Two individuals were linked to housing placement.
In June 2023, San Bernardino County opted into Laura’s Law, also known as Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). Laura’s Law provides opportunities for court-ordered community treatment pathways for individuals with histories of hospitalization, incarceration or violence. During this operation, three individuals were identified as candidates for assisted outpatient treatment.
The H.O.P.E. Team and other aligned resources will continue similar operations throughout the county over the next year, thanks to Community Concerns funding. This special funding, approved by the Board of Supervisors, allows the Sheriff’s Department to address topics of concern to local communities, such as homelessness and mental illness.
If you know of individuals experiencing homelessness who need services, please contact the H.O.P.E. Team at 909-387-0623 or hope@sbcsd.org.
