Homeless Outreach Team
Assisting homeless members of our community to achieve sustainable independence through proactive outreach. A collaborative effort between the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and Placerville Police Department to address the needs of a vulnerable population.
Our Mission
Offering both short and long term opportunities with individualized services tailored to meet the needs of the impacted environment, and allowing us to assess and stabilize homeless individuals in immediate crisis, or in non-immediate situations.
Strategic Goals
- Utilize system management to allow homeless individuals to live as independently as possible.
- Ensuring that our environment and ecosystem takes as much priority as the individual in question.
- Build alliances with the homeless community through proactive outreach and personal contact in the field.
- Treating all individuals with compassion, dignity, and respect.
What We Do
- Build rapport with and maintain contact with the homeless in our community.
- Reduce transient criminal activity/public complaint.
- Identify and document new transients to keep track of contact.
- Reduce transient fire activity and the impact to the community.
- Work with community members who want to clear homeless activity from their property.
- Total enforcement on individuals who fail to comply with the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and continue to break the law.
- Provide support for clean up efforts on county properties related to transients.
What can you do?
- Be kind and understanding.
- Be active in your community.
- Volunteer and share your experiences with others! Encourage them to get involved too.
- Be vigilant. Report anything suspicious.
Keep the County Clean
El Dorado County is a unique and beautiful place to live, work and play. We are a community whose central focus is providing healthy and active options to our residents. This county prides itself on its expansive outdoor recreational offerings to include lakes, mountains, and plenty of beautiful trails to bike or hike.
As HOT continues to provide services to those in need and assist them in finding alternative circumstances, many camps that were previously inhabited were vacated. In many cases, HOT works with individuals to clear the remnants and waste associated with these camps, however, that is not always the case. There was immediate concern for environmental impact and the risk of damage to the community as a result of water run off.
HOT worked quickly in collaboration with multiple county agencies to address these issues on all county-owned properties. HOT has worked closely with County Parks and Trails Manager and EID to create lasting solutions post cleanup and to ensure future preservation of this area.
To date, HOT, various county and private agencies and the community have removed nearly 135 cubic yards of trash for these impacted areas.
The group worked diligently sifting through garbage, waste and property. All garbage and hazardous waste is disposed of in the appropriate manner.
Any potential recovered stolen property or property in good condition is collected by HOT and taken to the Sheriff's Property section for proper safekeeping.
HOT encourages the integration of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) in areas previously occupied by homeless. CPTED has proven to directly impact recidivism by reducing the opportunity for crime.
The incorporation of CPTED principles within an area might include the installation of appropriate lighting, proper signage, landscaping and gates.
Through these efforts, HOT hopes to increase focus and territorial reinforcement for these areas. This will ensure it may be preserved for its proper use, the community's enjoyment.
County Resources
El Dorado County is unique in that the available emergency shelters and transitional housing services are extremely limited. HOT is committed to connecting those requiring assistance to the appropriate available resources.
Contact Us
Additionally, the Homeless Outreach Team encourages you to report any instances of homelessness in the County requiring our attention. HOT Phone: (530) 621-7535