HelpCopsHelpUs: Homeless recovery and Horse rescue: A winning strategy

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Homeless recovery and Horse rescue: A winning strategy

Anthio featured in this clip was homeless in Tampa, Florida before being referred to the Sheriff's Office Homeless Initiative for assistance. After meeting with Anthio for the first time I almost had an immediate housing solution for him when he showed me his prized album of pictures from his earlier show horse training days. He has a passion for horses and it was an obvious collaboration with the horse rescue, Equestrian Inc., who also needed a ranch hand which produced an answer.

Anthio was off the streets at no expense to the tax paying citizenry and the therapy of his reclaimed former life has produced incredible results in a short period of time. We still work with Anthio until we are comfortable that he has become self supportive and independent.

He is a favorite homeless recovery success story and it illustrates the problem-solving collaboration between public and privates sectors.

Good luck Anthio we are all proud of you for your remarkable come back from the streets.

And, Thanks to Judy at the District III Sheriff's Office and her Husband Arnold ( and the unidentified Cheerleader Dad) for all the donations!

Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Homeless Initiative
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.