Public officials are unsure of how to solve the problem, as homeless individuals often do not want to be helped.
Huntington Beach has experienced exponential growth in its homeless population in recent years, with city officials resorting to nonprofits and a police task force to deal with ongoing incidents between these individuals and the public, though the homeless continue to deny services.
According to the county’s 2022 Point-In-Time (PIT) calculations–a count conducted every three years estimating the number of homeless individuals in the county–Huntington Beach now has around 330 homeless individuals. And in the 28 square mile city, law enforcement has already intervened multiple times this month via their Homeless Task Force, as per the HBPD’s twitter.
The city’s Homeless Task Force routinely patrols the city, conducting outreach to those experiencing homelessness, according to a statement from HBPD.
As of Aug. 4, the agency has made 46 arrests in the last two months of some of these individuals after they were caught loitering a private parking lot and adjacent areas.
In a statement from the department, HBPD notes its continued effort to work collaboratively with both individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as private citizens in hopes of improving ‘overall quality of life’ through these interventions.
“These arrests, along with our efforts to connect subjects experiencing homelessness to various resources, are done to improve the quality of life for everyone,” HBPD issued in a statement. “We are grateful for the relationships we build with the businesses and residents in the City to ensure the safety of all.”
In addition to previous arrests, HBPD noted its continued efforts to build “positive relationships” with these individuals to connect them to resources, such as temporary housing or drug rehabilitation treatment.
As of Aug. 18, the task force reportedly conducted additional outreach along a stretch of railroad tracks within the city owned and operated by Union Pacific Railroad, working alongside the city’s public works department and the railroad.
In addition to their task force, the city has employed a litany of other sources to aid its mission in tackling homelessness, including social workers, non-profits, religious institutions, and local government agencies. Part of the issue, according to officials, is individuals not yet ready to receive help or services.
