Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board:
1) Approve a program that would allow the Sheriff's Office to use General Fund monies to purchase meals, lodging, transportation, and other necessary items for homeless individuals for the purpose of reunifying them with their families; and
2) Find that such expenditures provide a valuable public benefit by improving outcomes for homeless individuals and reducing their dependence on public services. (Est. Time: 10 Min.)
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Sheriff’s Office (SO) recommends the Board approve the program that would allow the Sheriff's Office to use General Fund monies to purchase food, lodging, transportation, and other necessary items for reunifying homeless individuals with their families.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Reunifying homeless individuals is one of the main objectives of the Sheriff's Office Homeless Outreach Team (HOT). Hot began operations in May of 2017 assisting homeless individuals in El Dorado County find more permanent solutions for housing.
From working out in the field, HOT has found that a good number of homeless individuals have family throughout the US but have no resources to reunify with them.
The SO believes that the best outcome for many these individuals they work with would be reunification with their families, so long as a connection can be made and appropriate plans can be coordinated. The SOand is requesting the approval to use general fund budget monies to assist in the reunification process.
It is anticipated most purchases will be for bus/train tickets and commercial flights. HOT does not expect to use more than $2,500 in FY17/18 but believes this will be a very effective way to house certain homeless individuals under the right circumstances. HOT will not assist the move of a homeless person just to move them to another County where the individual is just going to be homeless somewhere else. Understanding homelessness is increasing thro...
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