HelpCopsHelpUs: Tampa Police promote homeless effort in Spring Issue of Signal 14 magazine

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Tampa Police promote homeless effort in Spring Issue of Signal 14 magazine

A few months ago Tampa Police minted their very first "Homeless Liaison" Master Officer Dan McDonald. In this short time McDonald has blazed a trail within the City of Tampa assisting the homeless with their recovery from the streets.

More recently McDonald assisted a homeless Veteran with housing by connecting him to the right resources which is an overwhelming task for most without the type of support offered by McDonald's Homeless Initiative.

I have been fortunate enough to work at McDonald's side to better understand the complexity of the homeless problem within the City of Tampa. I have witnessed his problem solving skills which will be an asset to those he helps on the streets

In the Signal 14 Spring issue McDonald said, "Success with this program relies on building relationships. In this new position, I'm able to use my creativity and networking skills to help those less fortunate."

Keep up the great work Master Officer McDonald, you have already made a difference in the communities that you serve.

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
HelpCopsHelpUs.org

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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.