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Modesto police describe expanded outreach, mobile teams and early results in homelessness response
Summary
Modesto Police Department presented data and program details on its alternative-response units — CHAT, park rangers, HARP and the co-response team — saying the units have grown and handled a rising share of calls while the city pursues housing partnerships and outreach.
The Modesto Police Department outlined an array of alternative‑response programs on Aug. 20, saying the units aim to divert low‑level quality‑of‑life calls away from uniformed patrol and connect people experiencing homelessness to shelter and services.
Lieutenant Michael Hammond, area command division, described the Community Housing Assessment Team (CHAT), park rangers, the Homeless Engagement and Response Program (HARP) and a clinician‑paired co‑response unit (INSERT). Hammond said CHAT staffing expanded from four members in 2020 to 12 members by mid‑2025 and that increased staffing allowed CHAT to handle more dispatched calls.
Key details and statistics: Hammond said that in 2025, CHAT handled roughly "3% of all dispatch calls" and operates seven days a week, with members working 11‑hour shifts in a rotating schedule. CHAT documents contacts in an Esri database and provides shelter referrals, mental‑health linkage, transportation and other services. Hammond said mobile outreach can be time intensive: "A single CHAT call may take several hours," and those longer engagements can prevent multiple future calls for service.
Program structure and partners: The department said it formed CHAT and related services after federal and court developments affected homelessness enforcement. Hammond cited the Ninth Circuit decision in Martin v. Boise (2018) as a pivot point for earlier local practice and said the department has continued to adapt after subsequent legal and federal developments. He listed partner organizations that work with CHAT, including Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), Telecare, Turning Point, Salvation Army, Downtown Streets Team and the Gospel Mission.
Other units described: - Park rangers: Education‑focused teams assigned to parks; planned to reach 12 positions with six currently filled, covering major parks and handling municipal‑code education and noncriminal enforcement. - HARP: A small, officer‑led engagement team assigned to outreach and partnerships to address chronic encampments and build case management referrals. - INSERT (co‑response): Two clinicians paired with officers to respond to higher‑level behavioral‑health calls during weekday hours.
Funding and staffing: Hammond said CHAT began with county and state grant support and expanded with local and county collaboration. A board member asked whether CHAT funding is grant‑based; staff replied the program is funded through a county corrections/probation funding mechanism (described in the meeting as a California Corrections-linked board) and jurisdictional partners, and the department said it would be willing to use general‑fund dollars if needed to sustain the model.
Success stories and limits: Hammond shared two brief success stories: one individual who secured housing and enrolled in trade school after CHAT and partner follow‑up, and another who entered sober housing and later worked with street outreach programs. He stressed that success often requires sustained contact and can take months or years. Board members and public commenters urged expanded clinician staffing and 24‑hour coverage; staff said clinician retention is a countywide challenge and that BHRS maintains a 24‑hour line for urgent clinical support.
Why it matters: Board members and many public commenters framed homelessness as a multiagency challenge requiring housing, behavioral‑health services and coordinated outreach. The presentation highlighted operational changes and partnerships the city says are intended to reduce emergency room transports and criminalization of homelessness while connecting people to services.
Next steps and open questions: Staff said they will continue quarterly community forums, refine metrics (including shelter placements and follow‑through), and track outcomes from increased CHAT staffing. The department said it will provide additional data to the board, including budget breakdowns and coordinated entry wait list details upon request.
