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Grand Rapids retools Homeless Outreach Team, expands coverage to 24 hours starting June 2
Summary
City leaders described a staffing-driven reorganization of the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) that will move to 24-hour fire-department-led coverage June 2, reduce Network 180 social-worker hours to two positions, and highlighted gaps and citywide data on contacts and 311 calls related to homelessness and personal-property enforcement.
The Grand Rapids Homeless Outreach Team will shift to 24-hour coverage and a revised staffing model, Fire Chief Brown told the Public Safety Committee Friday, citing retirements and recruitment challenges among current team members.
Chief Brown said HOT will remain in the fire department and shift to a 24-hour staffing model beginning June 2. The city will deploy a fire captain or lieutenant in a response vehicle along with two social workers supplied by Network 180; Network 180 is transitioning from five social workers on the team to two and staff said a personnel gap is expected until the new hires start.
"We're going to shift to 24 hour coverage," Chief Brown said, adding the change will allow the team to combine homelessness outreach with medical outreach work for frequent users of emergency services.
Kristen Spikerman, chief clinical officer at Network 180, confirmed the organization is…
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