Grand Jury 2019 Report: Homeless*

The City of Eureka and Humboldt County governments are not effectively working together in coordination to solve the problem of homelessness. PARTIALLY AGREE Response - The Sheriff's Office and Eureka Police Department participate in many different work groups related to ways to improve homelessness throughout the county. Our Departments both work with the DHHS MIST and believe in this program to help find solutions to homelessness. The Sheriff's office is committed to work with public safety agencies, Community Based Organizations (CBO), Churches, and the Department of Health and Human Services to look at alternatives to solve the law violations that are often caused by persons that are homeless. I recognize that enforcement of the law may not be the best solution to solve the homeless crisis in Humboldt County. However, with the limited resources in this community, Law Enforcement is often the only responding agency to deal with the criminal issues surrounding homelessness. The reporting parties that have homeless persons trespassing on their land, urinating in public, using narcotics openly in public, disposing of needles/drug paraphernalia, disturbing the peace, littering, and damaging the environment also demand a response. I urge the CBO's and local churches to reach out and help solve this problem, before Law Enforcement has to act.