Fresno City Council
January 27, 2022

Fresno City Council Workshop
Introducing the City’s
Homeless Assistance Response Team

Agenda: Homeless Assistance Response Team
What is the challenge?
What is HART?
What resources does HART utilize?
How will HART function?
How does HART respond to calls for service?
How will we measure HART’s success?
Questions
Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022
Challenge #1: More unhoused
persons than services and
beds.
• Number of unhoused:

Estimated at 4,000
• Number of temporary beds:

Estimated at 1,500
• Number unsheltered:

Estimated at 2,500
Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022

Challenge #2: Encampments
are the most dangerous places
for any person to live.
• Number of encampments:

Estimated at 64
• Number of shanties:

Estimated at 479
• Number individuals:

Estimated at 704
Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022

What is HART?
Homeless Assistance Response Team
HART is a compassionate, responsive, lawful and effective outreach leading unsheltered individuals and families to take the first step off the streets and into a new future.

Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022
HART will…
• Affirm the Dignity of Every
Unhoused Person, and
• Assure the Quality of Life
of Every Resident and
Business Owner

HART Goals
Homeless Assistance Response Team
HART’s #1 Goal: To protect, assess and
connect unsheltered persons and families
with shelter and resources.

HART’s #2 Goal: To promptly resolve
quality of life issues affecting residents
and businesses on both public and
private property.

Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022

What is HART?
Homeless Assistance Response Team
HART’s Objectives:
• For the unsheltered:
• HART protects the unsheltered.
• HART provides outreach to those on the
street.
• HART connects people with services and
shelter.
• For the community at large:
• HART responds to service requests from
the public.
• HART assures safe Public Spaces.
• HART assures safe Private Spaces.

Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022

What resources does HART utilize?
Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022

How will HART function?
Homeless Assistance Response Team
HART Functions:
• HART serves the Unsheltered by…
• Focusing on Resolving Encampments.
• Stewarding the City’s emergency shelter
resources strategically.
• HART serves the Community at Large by…
• Responding to requests for service through
3-1-1 (One Call Does It All)
• Strategically resolving encampments on
public property.
• Partnering with residents and businesses to
restore their private properties
Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022

January 27, 2022 Homeless Assistance Response Team
How does HART respond to calls for service?
HART Communications and Workflow

HART Service Request – required details

1. Location of Encampment & Property Type (important for routing of request)  Physical address or cross streets (if cross streets are provided we need to know what corner,

SE, SW, NE, NW)
 Property Type: Public or Private
 Mental Health situation: If the reporting party mentions there could be possible mental health concerns. Depending on response they may need to be referred to Fresno PD non- emergency number or 911 if life threatening

2. Site Conditions Addressed (Prohibited Acts)
 Camping
 Use of tent, shanty, or structure
 Bathing or washing person/belongings
 Urinating/defecating
 Use of Open flame, BBQ, fire pit, etc.
 Garbage, trash or debris (will be cleared by Sanitation if public easement or city property)  Criminal activity of any kind (refer the reporting party to Fresno PD to report depending on response)
January 27, 2022 Homeless Assistance Response Team
HART Service Request – required details

3. Number of Individuals, if possible (important for routing of request & for COF staff safety)  1 - 2
 3 - 9
 10 or more

4. Any children present at the location
 YES
 NO

5. Any animals present at the location (important for safety reasons and for outreach to be prepared)  Please specify: Dog, Cat, etc.
 Provide number, if known
 N/A, if none

6. Reporting party name and number (important for follow-up, if needed) January 27, 2022 Homeless Assistance Response Team
How will we measure success?
Metrics

1. Outreach
• Persons contacted, linked to Emergency
Shelter/Triage Centers, linked to diversion
services, linked to navigation services
• Mental Health Referrals
• Number of Encampments Resolved

2. Emergency Shelter/Triage Centers
• Safe Exits per number of days
• Occupancy rates
• Persons linked to substance abuse treatment
and other services

3. Call Response
• Number of complaints addressed
• Number of services provided
• Amount of trash/debris removed
• Crime activity/law enforcement interventions
• Maintenance of public spaces (highways,
canals, parks, etc.)
Homeless Assistance Response TeamJanuary 27, 2022

QUESTIONS?