The Mobile City Council is set to vote Tuesday on authorizing Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis to pursue up to $200,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Justice Department’s Community Policing Development Microgrants Program, money city officials say would expand the Homeless Outreach Team that pairs police officers with behavioral health and outreach specialists.
If the grant is awarded, the additional resources would allow the team to respond more quickly to encampment complaints and connect unhoused residents to social services, according to Dr. Kendell Young, the city’s Homeless Outreach Coordinator.
“Whenever our unhoused population needs assistance, we’re there,” Young said, adding that building trust with unhoused residents is essential to getting them connected with resources.
The Homeless Outreach Team already works to address illegal squatting and reduce repeat calls for service, while also aiming to rebuild trust between unhoused residents and city agencies. Pairing law enforcement with behavioral health and outreach professionals is intended to steer people toward shelter, treatment and other services rather than relying solely on enforcement.
The Justice Department is distributing roughly $6.7 million nationally through the competitive microgrant program this cycle. If Mobile’s application is approved, the resulting two-year grant would require no local cost-sharing from the city.
The council’s vote Tuesday would authorize the mayor to pursue the grant; a formal award, if granted, would follow the Justice Department’s review process.