The annual point-in-time count of the homeless population in the Morongo Basin puts the number right around 120 people. Managing editor Tami Roleff says Captain Luke Niles of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s station says the Sheriff’s Department has resources that work together with activist organizations to help the homeless…
“The Sheriff’s Department, through the Board of Supervisors through the county, put some resources together that really focus some personnel committed to reaching out to individuals who are homeless or otherwise close to being homeless, and talk to them about services that are available. And there is a lot.”
Sheriff’s Captain Luke Niles said there are several community activist groups that work with the homeless and the Sheriff’s Department.
“There’s a lot of help out there. Some take advantage of it, unfortunately, many don’t.”
The Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement (or HOPE) program is comprised of deputies, social workers, and mental health advocates who try to make relationships with homeless individuals who don’t take advantage of available resources.
“It’s about trust. Sometimes these individuals need to be contacted many times over the span of even a year before they will start trusting anyone that offers them services.”
For more information about the Sheriff’s Department and the homeless in the Morongo Basin, listen to the Up Close podcast available on the Z107.7 website.
