Over a recent 10-hour span, San Bernardino's initiative, Operation Shelter Me, provided emergency housing for 17 individuals, among them three families, a pregnant woman in her final trimester, and two veterans. According to the SBSD - Headquarters, the outreach occurred from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 7, targeting homeless individuals in San Bernardino and nearby unincorporated areas, especially those with severe mental illnesses.
During Operation Shelter Me, the Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement (H.O.P.E.) The team engaged with the local unhoused population to link them to services such as housing, medical care, and mental health treatment. Teams approached 134 individuals, with 107 receiving referrals to aid programs. Notably, the efforts came in the wake of the Senate Bill 170 funding boost, which seeks to address ongoing challenges faced by those without shelter, as per the SBSD - Headquarters.
Despite the initiative's immediate success, services remain constrained by capacity issues. However, the H.O.P.E. Team's long-term goal is to facilitate sustained access to aid, working to incorporate individuals into available programs progressively. June of 2023 marked a significant milestone when San Bernardino County adopted Laura’s Law or Assisted Outpatient Treatment, which provides court-mandated treatment for persons with a history of hospitalization, incarceration, and violence towards themselves or others. Yet, during this iteration of Operation Shelter Me, no individuals meeting the criteria for Laura's Law were identified, as reported by the SBSD - Headquarters.
Community members who are aware of homeless individuals in need of support are encouraged to contact the H.O.P.E. Team at 909-387-0623 or via email at [email protected] to connect them with the necessary services. As San Bernardino County continues to combat homelessness, the H.O.P.E. Team assures ongoing operations, underpinned by Senate Bill 170's provision.
