East SBV Times

The Community Service & Reentry Division’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement Team (H.O.P.E.) implemented "Operation Shelter Me" on Friday, April 11, 2025. The operation, conducted from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., focused on the Morongo Basin and neighboring areas. The initiative aims to connect the unhoused population with necessary resources including housing, medical, and mental health treatment services. Specific emphasis was placed on helping individuals experiencing significant mental illnesses by linking them to restorative mental health pathways.

During the course of the operation, the H.O.P.E. Team identified 18 individuals experiencing homelessness. Of these, 14 were provided with referral information to access assistance programs, while four individuals were directly connected with follow-up professional services.

The operation falls within the wider scope of initiatives made possible after San Bernardino County's 2023 adoption of Laura's Law, or Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). This law enables court-ordered community treatment for those with a history of hospitalization, incarceration, or violent incidents. However, no candidates for this treatment were identified in this operation.

The H.O.P.E. Team plans to conduct similar operations throughout the county, with funding provided by the "Community Concerns" initiative. Approved by the County Board of Supervisors, this funding facilitates the Sheriff's Department’s involvement in addressing community issues such as homelessness and mental illness.

For assisting individuals experiencing homelessness and in need of services, the public is encouraged to contact the H.O.P.E. Team at 909-387-0623 or via email at [email protected].

Shannon D. Dicus, Sheriff-Coroner with the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, oversees these initiatives.