December 27, 2023 - San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials report that on Friday, December 22, 2023, 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 the city of Barstow and surrounding unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. Operation Shelter Me aims to connect staff with unhoused residents and offer them housing, medical and mental health treatment services. During this operation, the team focused on those with the most significant mental illness to get those individuals linked to restorative mental health pathways.
The team provided 20 individuals with referrals to programs for assistance. Three individuals were linked with follow-up professional services. While service capacity is limited, the teams will continue to work with this population to get them into services as they become available. Additionally, the H.O.P.E. team was called to assist with providing temporary housing for an individual from Bloomington being linked to additional resources.
In June of 2023, San Bernardino County opted into Laura’s Law, also called Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). Laura’s Law provides opportunities for court-ordered community treatment pathways for individuals with histories of hospitalization or incarceration, and histories of violence to themselves or others. During this operation, deputies did not locate any individuals who met criteria for Laura's Law services.
The team provided this focused outreach due to Senate Bill 170, which provided funding to the Department to support ongoing operations of this nature. The H.O.P.E. Team and other aligned resources will continue operations of this type throughout the county over the next several years.
If you know of persons experiencing homelessness who need services, please get in touch with the H.O.P.E. Team at 909-387-0623 or hope@sbcsd.org.
DATE/TIME: December 22, 2023 / 6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
INCIDENT: Operation Shelter Me
LOCATION: Barstow and surrounding communities
SUSPECT(S): N/A
VICTIM(S): N/A
Case No. N/A
Source & photos: San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
