HelpCopsHelpUs: "Little John" Homeless Jam

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

"Little John" Homeless Jam

It wasn't long ago I discovered this homeless camp in a remote area off of Hillsborough Ave. "John" and "Scotty" are two of three homeless men that have lived in the camp for well over a year. Admittedly, it is one of the most well put together homeless camps that I have seen in the hills of the county. Not too long ago, "John" asked for help to get off the streets and I have recently started working with him to get his homeless recovery moving along. Shortly after my most recent visit to the camp the strumming duo broke into a jam session and the rest was caught on tape.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Welcome to Help Cops Help Us: A Homeless Initiative Blog

The Help Cops Help Us homeless initiative is a new problem-solving model centered on the root causes of homelessness. Its philosophy rests on the fundamental human principle that people, all people, will succumb to the human trait of inevitable behavior until intrigued or compelled to act differently.

The uniformed law enforcement officer is the epicenter of the street engagement model that uses a "coupling" technique, motivating each homeless candidate that becomes accountable to a singular and persistent mortal entity -- a street cop.

The coupling effect is a two-pronged approach where candidates who resist assistance and rehabilitation, by default will receive the law enforcement prong when behavior exhibits a callous disregard with laws and a communities desire in maintaining a certain quality of life.

The homeless candidate receives both direct and indirect assistance after a street assessment evaluates their individual needs and problems. We then solve their most basic problems so they may become self-sufficient.

We mend fences, rebuild character, solve their problems, then push them into the water where they are forced to learn how to swim again.

When they are off the streets and into housing we continue to monitor and follow-up until we are certain they have become self sufficient for long term sustainability.