Homeless Outreach Team

The Oceanside Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.) was created in 2014 and as of 2019 is comprised of four officers and a sergeant. The ultimate goal of the H.O.T. is to assist the city’s homeless population in “breaking the cycle” of homelessness.

The H.O.T. works closely with several service providers to help accomplish this goal by connecting these individuals with the various resources that are available to them to assist them in finding permanent housing.  There are several social workers, volunteers, and other staff that work closely with the H.O.T. officers both in the office and out in the field. Some of the service providers we work with include Interfaith Community Services, Brother Bennos, Health and Human Services Association, McAlister Institute, The Regional Taskforce on The Homeless (RTFH), Mental Health Systems (MHS), Alpha Project, and the City Housing Authority.  The team has adopted a “non-enforcement” approach that lends to building rapport, trust, and communication leading to constructive relationships that lead to problem solving.

In March 2019, the City Council approved the following with Measure X funding:

• The funding of two additional police officers (bringing the total to 4).
• An additional vehicle for the new team.
• Funding of $650,000 in year 1 for the Police Department to deploy officers on an overtime basis to engage in additional crime suppression focused on the downtown and transient/homeless issues.
• Funding of $77,000 in year 1 for an additional contract social worker to partner with the team

Further details regarding the spending plan for Measure X can be found here: March 2019 Spending Plan Measure X

The team holds open office hours every Thursday at 1:30 pm at the H.O.T. Office located at 307 N. Nevada Street, Oceanside. For more information on the Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.) please email them at OPDHOT@oceansideca.org or contact individual officers: