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Fort Collins police HOPE team details outreach-first approach to homelessness
Summary
At a City Council work session, Fort Collins Police Department leaders described the Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement (HOPE) teamapproach, saying officers focus on building relationships, connecting people to shelter and services, and reserving enforcement for criminal conduct.
Fort Collins Assistant Police Chief Christy Voleski and Sergeant Annie Hill on Monday told the City Council that the departmentHOPE (Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement) team treats most contacts as opportunities to offer resources and avoid punitive measures when shelter capacity is unavailable.
The HOPE team, created as a pilot in early 2023, pairs officers trained in crisis intervention with community partners to provide a problem-oriented, relationship-based response to homelessness. The teamfocuses on voluntary compliance, referrals to shelter and social services, follow-up at repeat locations, and coordinated cleanups of long-standing camps.
"One of our goals is to really build relationships with our unhoused community members," Sergeant Annie Hill said, describing the unitapproach and partnerships with agencies such as Outreach Fort Collins, Homeward Alliance, Housing Catalyst and The…
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