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**U.S. Department of Justice**        Office of Community Oriented Policing Services            145 N Street, N.E.       Washington, DC 20530      www.cops.usdoj.gov×         Menu         - Home
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 December 2020 | Volume 13 | Issue 12

    Throughout 2020, community members have been encouraged to stay in their    homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This raises the question: What    about those who lack consistent shelter?

    According to the    *2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress*    released by the            U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development        (HUD), about 568,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in    January 2019.1    Although homelessness declined in some states during 2019, in others, such    as California, homelessness continued to rise. Moreover, with the economic    hardships of the global pandemic impacting families and individuals across    the nation, many anticipate a continued rise in the homeless population as    a result of evictions initially halted by state orders. Further, concerns    have arisen surrounding the early release of individuals from detention    centers who may not have social supports such as housing—which may    contribute to further rises in the homeless population.

    The            Seattle (Washington) Police Department        (SPD) is collaborating with local partners for homeless individuals not    willing to receive services. The SPD has distributed more than 1,000    hygiene kits that include paper towels, soap, water, and more.

    In many instances, it has fallen to law enforcement not only to provide    medical care and awareness of the pandemic to homeless individuals but also    to collaborate with city, businesses, and community services to provide    them with adequate shelter from exposure to the virus.

    Through the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center    (CRI-TAC),            the International Association of Chiefs of Police        (IACP) has monitored the impacts of COVID-19 on policing and identified    unique and innovative initiatives that agencies across the United States    have implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This active    collection of information through the CRI-TAC has shown that—based on the    needs of their community—many agencies are focusing on outreach efforts to    protect this vulnerable population.

While it may seem easy to broadcast a message to the public through social    media, radio, or television, this task becomes more challenging when    vulnerable populations do not have access to these media outlets. For a    message to reach the homeless population, it is imperative that an agency    think creatively and initiate a positive relationship with community    partners such as local homeless shelters or mental health professionals. By    working with local partners, law enforcement might raise awareness of a    health crisis through public options including billboards, signs on public    transportation, and flyers in frequently visited areas.

    Agencies have also taken the approach of interacting directly with the    homeless population and applying appropriate safety precautions such as the    use of personal protective equipment. Many agencies have implemented    community response units (CRU) or crisis intervention teams (CIT) that    regularly engage with their communities’ homeless populations. During the    pandemic, these specialized units work with local partners to provide    hygiene kits that could consist of paper towels, soap, and water while also    educating homeless individuals on social distancing, additional guidelines    for preventing the spread of COVID-19, and safe places to stay.

    The            Minnehaha County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Office        created the Alliance program, which identified vulnerable populations in    their prison system like homeless or elderly individuals. They worked with    local shelters and hotels to prepare for the re-entry of these inmates and    offer a place to stay while awaiting test results or during their mandated    quarantine.

    With rising concerns about the capacity of homeless shelters and their    ability to adhere to guidelines from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agencies have also collaborated with city planners to secure additional    locations for the homeless community during the COVID-19 outbreak. For    example, some agencies have directed their elderly homeless population—as    well as those with compromised immune systems or underlying illnesses—to    recreation centers, hotels, and casinos. Regardless of approach, agency    leaders should foster a culture of physical wellness among their officers    and deputies while the officers maintain their duty to serve community    members. By working with community partners and enacting creative    solutions, agencies have sought to provide adequate care and resources to    their homeless populations in this time of heightened need.

    If your agency is interested in receiving technical assistance on community    engagement or other critical need areas, please reach out to the CRI-TAC.
Learn More
    To learn more about the CRI-TAC, download a brochure, or request assistance    for your agency, visit the CRI-TAC website.

    Camryn Nethken        Project Coordinator, IACP
References
1 Megan Henry et al., *The 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress Part 1: Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness* (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2020), 4, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf.         	    																																									     
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The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

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