With periodic Community Targeted Area Activities, Homeless & Community Services works to reach as many unsheltered residents as possible
Each month, the Hillsborough County Homeless & Community Services department works alongside community partners at Community Targeted Area Activities to bring services directly to people who need them most.
By conducting outreach in targeted areas of the county, these events provide a one-stop-shop of services that can be difficult for unsheltered residents to access. The department hosted two impactful events in October.
The department was joined by Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Services, Hillsborough County Health Care Services, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Behavior Resource Unit (BRU), Saint Vincent de Paul Cares, Metropolitan Ministries BrigAIDe, and the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (THHI) Staff and Outreach Committee, among others.
The goal of each event is to work with people who are experiencing homelessness to provide them access to resources that will lead them to self-sufficiency.
Services offered include identifying available space in shelters, obtaining health care and mental health services, registering veterans for homeless resources, and reunification with family and friends.
October's activities successfully placed individuals in shelters and provided transportation, whether through law enforcement or the Hillsborough County Sunshine Line. They also enrolled clients in the Hillsborough County Health Care Plan, connected them to the County Job Board to seek employment, and offered guidance on how to apply for affordable housing based on their needs and income.
Residents who attend these outreach events are met with help tailored to their specific situations. In October alone, Hillsborough County Homeless & Community Services collaborated with eight community partners plus multiple shelter providers at their outreach events, providing a well-rounded approach to homelessness in Hillsborough.
Outreach efforts are ongoing, with events like these taking place at least once a month. By coordinating efforts across departments and agencies, Hillsborough County is clearing hurdles to housing one individual at a time.