Housing and Homelessness Committee Memorandum
TO: HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE DATE: aUGUST 22, 2022
MEMBERS
FROM: OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION ON THE HOMELESS OUTREACH MEDIATION AND EDUCATION (HOME) PROGRAM, AN ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING PROGRAM ISSUE:
Receive a presentation on the Homeless Outreach Mediation and Education (HOME) Program, an alternative sentencing program.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Housing and Homelessness Committee receive a presentation on the Homeless Outreach Mediation and Education (HOME) Program, an alternative sentencing program.
BACKGROUND:
The Homeless Outreach Mediation and Education (HOME) Program is an alternative sentencing program developed for those who are facing criminal prosecution for low-level crimes and are suffering from homelessness. The program promotes community-based treatment to assist homeless individuals with underlying issues and the transition to a stable environment of health, family and employment. The program operates to promote a therapeutic approach to sentencing in lieu of incarceration and additional fines and fees. The HOME Program is administered by the County of Riverside District Attorney’s Office.
DISCUSSION:
The goals of the HOME program are to:
Promote the support and structure of healthy, independent and contributing members of the community; Reduce recidivism;
Promote public safety through enhanced probationary supervision of participants; Promote the fair and appropriate sentencing of defendants who are suffering from homelessness; Reduce the financial and public safety costs related to repeated revocations of supervision; Utilize rehabilitative programming; and
Collect relevant data regarding participant progress and overall program success.
The City will be making referrals to the program through Outreach Workers and the City Attorney’s Office. The HOME Program staff attended a Santa Ana River Bottom resource event to identify potential program participants that can be assisted through the program. A follow up event is being held on August 31, 2022.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.2, collaborate with partner agencies to reduce the incidence and duration of homelessness.
The item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows.
Community Trust – The City is transparent and makes decisions based on sound policy and data. The City will continue to use data when identifying gaps in homeless programs and services.
Equity – Riverside is supportive of the City’s racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, identity, geographic, and other attributes of diversity and is committed to advancing the fairness of treatment, recognition of rights, and equitable distribution of services to ensure every member of the community has equal access to share the benefits of community progress.
Fiscal Responsibility – The HOME Program is administered by the County of Riverside and the City will not bear any cost related to this program.
Innovation – Riverside is inventive and timely in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepares for the future through collaborative partnerships.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Riverside is committed to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future and ensuring the City’s capacity to persevere, adapt and grow during good and difficult times alike.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this staff report.
Prepared by: Lorissa Villarreal, Officer of Homeless Solutions Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Presentation
Homeless Outreach Mediation and Education Program, an Alternative Sentencing Program ● Page 3