Homeless Outreach

Mission Statement:

The mission of the City of Temecula’s Responsible Compassion program is to further improve quality of life by developing residents’, businesses’ and visitors’ awareness, understanding, and participation in a comprehensive strategy to solve homelessness in Temecula.

  • Development of a multi-agency partnership to increase collaboration of service providers to assist the homeless in becoming self-sufficient.
  • Ongoing personal contact between the Homeless Outreach Team officers and homeless individuals to increase trust and make referrals to service providers.
  • Work closely with local outreach organizations to coordinate housing, employment and medical and mental health services.
  • Enforcement of law violations (i.e. trespassing, illegal lodging, public intoxication, aggressive panhandling, etc.)

Four Types of Homelessness

  1.  Those that are able and willing to accept a “hand up” to regain self-sufficiency  
  2. Those that face obstacles to accepting support (e.g., mental/behavioral health)
  3. Those that refuse help while observing the law
  4. Those that refuse help and engage in illegal activity

Three Prong Approach to Responsible Compassion

The City of Temecula has taken the lead on crafting a comprehensive approach to solving the problem of regional homelessness in a way that respects the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  The “Responsible Compassion” program is consistent with the City’s Quality of Life Master Plan Core Value of Accountable and Responsive City Government and an effective approach to countering the causes and consequences of homelessness within our community.  
  1. HELP Center

    Physical Address
    28922 Pujol Street
    Temecula, CA 92590


    Hours

    By appointment only


    If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of homelessness, staff at the HELP Center will help you identify resources and options to improve your situation.


  2. Sgt. Pierson

    Training

PanhandlerPoster
  1. Collaboration
  2. Coordination
  3. Communication
Collaboration with a variety of partners and non-profit stakeholders, such as Community Mission of Hope, to provide effective and comprehensive services offering support and requiring participants to move down a path into self-sufficiency, without taxpayer dollars.

Temecula Police Department “CORE Team Overview/Duties” :


  • Implemented June 11, 2015
  • One Sergeant, four deputies, and a CSO assigned to the Team
  • Respond to calls for service dealing with homeless individuals (i.e. trespassing, illegal lodging, panhandling, 5150 evaluations, and public intoxication)

Successes

Reconnect and Restore
  • Help many of our clients with bus tickets to reconnect with family members
Employment Services
  • Several clients and volunteers have had employment assistance and found jobs
Recovery Programs
  • Many clients have entered recovery programs and have had success dealing with addiction
Increased Public Safety 

  • Increased arrests of criminal elements within the homeless community that undermine efforts to provide responsible compassion