If you’ve taken a drive through our communities, you have undoubtedly seen the problems when it comes to our homeless population. I, too, have seen firsthand the devastation of people experiencing homelessness in California. Our state accounts for 30% of the country’s homeless population despite making up less than 12% of the total population. Our state is also home to 50% of the country’s homeless people or those living in the streets, parks, or cars.
We also must develop solutions for homeless individuals who refuse to seek assistance from various nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, and governmental agencies. With the implementation of Laura’s Law, your sheriff’s department will immediately start getting gravely disabled individuals in our County off the streets and into programs that can help them when they are not willing or able to get help on their own.
Through the forward thinking of my predecessor, Sheriff John McMahon, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department established the Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement team in 2014.