Sheriff’s Office forms Community Action Team to help homeless
Deputy Ron Slaughter and Deputy Toby Depew
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced this week the deployment of a new Community Action Team this week, created and funded under the leadership of Sheriff Ian Parkinson and the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.
The purpose of the team is to focus two sheriff’s deputies solely on the homelessness issues in the unincorporated areas of the county.
The team’s goal is to recognize homeless individuals who are frequently contacted by patrol deputies, focusing assistance on drugs/alcohol dependencies, mental health issues, and referrals to treatment programs aimed at reducing their recidivism in our county jail and the criminal justice system.
By identifying these individuals, the team will act as liaisons, connecting them with the proper care they need from our community partners such as: Transitions Mental Health Association, Homeless Services Oversight Council, SLO County Behavioral Health Services, SLO County Probation Department, SLO County Veteran’s Outreach Program and Community Action Partners.
For further information about CAT or to request assistance for homeless persons living in the unincorporated area of SLO County, call (805) 788-2151.
On Wednesday, CAT Team Deputies Ron Slaughter and Toby Depew provided needed assistance to “Baskets of Love,” a local program developed by Joy Danley to distribute 1,000 Easter baskets to homeless children within San Luis Obispo County.
Related story: ECHO helps people transition from homelessness to home
