San Joaquin County has created a Community Assessment, Response and Engagement (CARE) team to deal with the homelessness crisis.
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of the CARE team on Tuesday.
The big picture: The CARE team will be operated by San Joaquin County’s probation department and is modeled after a program in Stanislaus County.
- CARE is intended to facilitate the expedited identification, assessment and linkage of the homeless population to supportive services.
- The team was proposed by Supervisors Tom Patti and Paul Canepa.
What they’re saying: San Joaquin County Probation Chief Steve Jackson said the county’s probation officers are in a unique position among law enforcement and social service workers.
- “A percentage of the homeless population are on probation or have some interaction with law enforcement,” Jackson said. “At the same time, our officers are trained to assist residents with difficult challenges to engage with services, learn how to make changes, and improve outcomes. I am thankful to the Board for the opportunity to expand our outreach to this vulnerable population to make a difference for our communities.”
- Patti added, “Supervisor Canepa and I have reached out and partnered with our cities, County agencies, and local nonprofit groups to look for innovative, umbrella approach to this continued crisis. We appreciate the Probation Department answering the call for a structured program throughout the County, including outreach, enforcement, care, and coordination for the unsheltered homeless in our community. Their input and willingness to take on new and expanded roles will impact lives and our communities for the better.”
