- Instead of waiting for individuals experiencing homelessness to come in for services, outreach staff seeks them out in the community.
- “The opening of the Outreach and Engagement Center for the homeless in our community was the result…of dedicated and caring individuals in our county collaborating to make this a better place for all of us to live.” ~ Supervisor Terry Withrow, Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, District 3
Stanislaus County Focus on Prevention collaborative welcomed a diverse and committed turnout of community members, nonprofit administrators, local government leadership and elected officials to celebrate the opening of Modesto’s new Outreach and Engagement Center, located at 825 12th Street. Assemblyman Adam Gray, Congressman Jeff Denham, and a host of other local officials acknowledged the need for homeless services and greater access, commending the efforts that went into the Outreach Center opening.
The new Outreach and Engagement Center will coordinate the provision of multiple services for those in our community struggling with homelessness. Many individuals experiencing homelessness are disengaged from — and may be distrustful of — public systems and may be reluctant to seek assistance. Outreach and engagement efforts allow communities to bring services directly to people experiencing homelessness who otherwise might not seek out services and connect them to housing and necessary supports. Instead of waiting for individuals experiencing homelessness to come in for services, outreach staff seeks them out in the community.
Initially staff from the County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department, Community Services Agency, Homeless Court Program and Chief Executive Office will be housed at the Center. By this fall 2017 offerings will expand to include a Housing Assessment Team and other co-located homelessness service providers and community partners, and will be open for walk-in access Monday – Friday. The OEC will not be open for walk-in access until September or October 2017. This development allows the community to bring services directly to people experiencing homelessness who otherwise might not seek out help, and connect them to housing and necessary support.
Supervisor Terry Withrow, of the County’s Stewardship Council said, “The opening of the Outreach and Engagement Center for the homeless in our community was the result of thousands of hours of work, and hundreds of dedicated and caring individuals in our county collaborating to make this a better place for all of us to live. It is only the tip of the iceberg as we watch many more great things come out of the Focus on Prevention Movement in Stanislaus County .”
For more on Focus on Prevention visit www.preventionfocus.net