Homeless Outreach



Mission Statement:


The mission of the City of Temecula’s Responsible Compassion program is to further improve quality of life by developing residents’, businesses’ and visitors’ awareness, understanding, and participation in a comprehensive strategy to solve homelessness in Temecula.

  • Development of a multi-agency partnership to increase collaboration of service providers to assist the homeless in becoming self-sufficient.
  • Ongoing personal contact between the Homeless Outreach Team officers and homeless individuals to increase trust and make referrals to service providers.
  • Work closely with local outreach organizations to coordinate housing, employment and medical and mental health services.
  • Enforcement of law violations (i.e. trespassing, illegal lodging, public intoxication, aggressive panhandling, etc.)

Four Types of Homelessness

  1. Those who want and will accept a hand up to regain self-sufficiency   
  2. Those who may be suffering from mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or  other conditions that inhibit reasoning skills
  3. Those who refuse help, and choose to live outdoors, while observing the law
  4. Those who refuse help, make a conscious choice to be homeless, and may be engaging in illegal activity (generally associated with theft, public intoxication, trespassing, aggressive panhandling and vandalism)

Three Prong Approach to Responsible Compassion


The City of Temecula has taken the lead on crafting a comprehensive approach to solving the problem of regional homelessness in a way that respects the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  The “Responsible Compassion” program is consistent with the City’s Quality of Life Master Plan Core Value of Accountable and Responsive City Government and an effective approach to countering the causes and consequences of homelessness within our community.  

Contact Us

  1. HELP Center

    Physical Address
    28922 Pujol Street
    Temecula, CA 92590

    Phone: 951-240-4242

    Hours
    Tuesday & Thursday: 9am-4pm
    All other times by appointment

    If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of homelessness, staff at the HELP Center will help you identify resources and options to improve your situation.

Please dont give to panhandlers

Related Documents

  1. Help Center Resource Card
  2. Temecula Help Center Brochure
  1. Collaboration
  2. Coordination
  3. Communication
Collaboration with a variety of partners and non-profit stakeholders, such as Community Mission of Hope, to provide effective and comprehensive services offering support and requiring participants to move down a path into self-sufficiency, without taxpayer dollars.

Temecula Police Department “Homeless Outreach Team Overview/Duties” :



  • Implemented June 11, 2015
  • One Sergeant and four officers assigned to the Team
  • Respond to calls for service dealing with homeless individuals (i.e. trespassing, illegal lodging, panhandling, 5150 evaluations, and public intoxication)

Accomplishments/Goals:



  • During the 2015 Point-In-Time Count, the City of Temecula saw about a 12% drop in those who were homeless. 
  • This can be attributed to the collaborative efforts by all stakeholders involved in addressing homelessness in the City of Temecula
  • 475 - Total 2018 Arrests
  • 576 - Year-to-Date 2019 Arrests
  • 1051 - Total HOT Arrests 2018-2019
  • 138 - 2018 Outreach Calls for Service
  • 152 - 2019 Outreach Calls for Service
  • 400 - Total Outreach Calls 2018-2019

Successes


Reconnect and Restore
  • Help many of our clients with bus tickets to reconnect with family members
Employment Services
  • Several clients and volunteers have had employment assistance and found jobs
Recovery Programs
  • Many clients have entered recovery programs and have had success dealing with addiction
Increased Public Safety 

  • Increased arrests of criminal elements within the homeless community that undermine efforts to provide responsible compassion