City of San Bernardino California

The Outreach and Engagement team continues to work hard by providing outreach services for unhoused individuals, with a wide array of resources, including access to longer-term shelters, rehabilitation programs, and facilitating family reunification, among others. Ensuring that housing priority is given to those who are from San Bernardino.

Recently, Outreach completed 15 placements. 9 Shelter placements and 6 in substance abuse treatment centers. They also succeeded in providing financial assistance to 2 individuals and permanent housing placement to an additional 2.

"As we promised, San Bernardino is taking action to address homelessness," said Mayor Helen Tran. "In addition to the new Outreach Team, we are currently cleaning up encampments, cleaning up our parks, and adding shelter beds. Residents are noticing a difference already."

On June 15th, the Outreach and Engagement team officially commenced its operations. Their first day in the field proved fruitful as collaborative endeavors led to the placement of 61 individuals in temporary housing. Moreover, they provided a wide array of services, including access to longer-term shelters, rehabilitation programs, and facilitating family reunification, among others. 

Residents and businesses will be able to report issues or request assistance by calling (909) 936-3478 or by email at [email protected].

The Outreach Team consists of a program manager, two peer specialists, two case managers, two counselors, and a data coordinator (City of San Bernardino's Homeless Services Coordinator on left, see below).

 Outreach efforts will extend across the entire 62 square miles of the city, actively engaging with the homeless community.

The creation of a homeless outreach team is one of a comprehensive response taken by the Mayor and City Council following its declaration of a homeless state of emergency in February.

In a contract awarded by the City Council on May 17, San Bernardino will partner with the Los Angeles County based Hope the Mission to provide a full-time team of eight skilled team members to work with San Bernardino Housing and Homeless staff five days a week. The outreach team will offer transportation services to individuals willing to seek shelter, access crisis centers, undergo rehabilitation, or to help reconnect with their families through reunification programs. In addition, the team will play a pivotal role in guiding unhoused individuals toward the forthcoming City shelter, ensuring that housing priority is given to those who are from San Bernardino.

Street Outreach Team

 The City now has a special team under the police station, we are excited to now have a Community Outreach And Support Team (C.O.A.S.T.) a crisis intervention team. Their goal is to intercept calls for service before they go to patrol and/or support patrol on mental health calls. When the team can engage with those experiencing mental health crisis, or do maintenance before they get into crisis, they can reduce calls for service, use of force, build rapport with the public, and reduce the number of “5150’s”.

 The Team consists of (1) fireman, (1)Social Worker from DBH, (1) Police officer and (1) support animal (Cooper).