East SBV Times

On July 12, 2024, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Community Service & Reentry Division, Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement Team (H.O.P.E.) conducted "Operation Shelter Me" in Fontana and surrounding unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. The operation aims to connect staff with unhoused residents and offer them housing, medical, and mental health treatment services. During this initiative, the team focused on individuals with significant mental illness to link them to restorative mental health pathways.

The H.O.P.E. Team located 39 individuals experiencing homelessness and provided referrals to programs for assistance to 36 of them. Eight individuals were connected with follow-up professional services. Despite limited service capacity, the teams will continue efforts to get this population into services as they become available.

In June 2023, San Bernardino County opted into Laura’s Law, also known as Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). Laura’s Law offers court-ordered community treatment pathways for individuals with histories of hospitalization or incarceration and violence towards themselves or others. During this operation, no subjects 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 due to "Community Concerns" funding. This special funding, approved by the County Board of Supervisors, allows the Sheriff's Department to direct resources toward addressing issues such as homelessness and mental illness among county residents.

If you know of persons experiencing homelessness who need services, please contact the H.O.P.E. Team at 909-387-0623 or [email protected].

Refer: The H.O.P.E. Team

Station: Community Service & Reentry Division

Phone No.: (909) 387-0623

Shannon D. Dicus

Sheriff-Coroner

San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department