HelpCopsHelpUs: Trustee Pays Cork board Homage To The Sheriff's Office

Friday, March 23, 2012

Trustee Pays Cork board Homage To The Sheriff's Office

You never know what you will stumble upon when you're trying something new like the Homeless Initiative. This morning proved that point again when I found the December article posted on the cork board inside the trustees' shed at the District III office on Gunn Hwy. I was obviously curious -- who would post the article about the Homeless Initiative here -- and why? After some asking around the answer should have been more obvious to me.

A few weeks ago the employees at District III had assembled to help a 24-year-old man that had been a favored trustee -- his name was Daniel.

After paying his debt to the Sheriff's Office as a trustee, Daniel was left homeless. He returned to District III to visit shortly after his departure as an obliged custodian and groundskeeper where a few had discovered that he was in fact living on the streets.


Former District III Trustee Daniel

I remember receiving a number of phone calls from DIII personnel as high ranking as Lieutenant asking me, "Can you help Daniel get off the streets?" I could see that Daniel was well-liked at District III and the fact that he was a former trustee didn't matter much to those district employees calling on his behalf.

I'm happy to say that Daniel was a quick-fix after calling in a favor or two I had him a place to stay within hours.

So, if we fast forward to this morning I now realize it was Daniel -- in his own way -- paying homage to the employees at District III who have helped him. Taking the time with proudly displaying the Homeless Initiative article on the trustees' cork board speaks volumes without him even being there.

Deputy Steven Donaldson

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

District III

Office: (813) 247-0330

Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us

Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

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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.