Sheriff's Office, Tampa Police Team Up To Help County's Homeless

TAMPA, FL – Flu shots, haircuts and health screenings are just some of the services Tampa’s homeless received when the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Tampa Police Department Outreach Program teamed up for the annual Tampa Community Homeless Outreach event.

This week dozens of deputies working out of each the sheriff’s four district offices joined Tampa police officers at the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa to provide the homeless with 25 bicycles, hot meals, blankets, hygiene bags and other necessities.

The event is part of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s Homeless Initiative that began in 2010 with just one Hillsborough County deputy.

Working in conjunction with several social agencies, the initiative has helped more than 500 homeless people find temporary housing or shelters. Additionally, more than 200 homeless residents have gotten permanent housing or has been reunited with family through the initiative.

On a daily basis, deputies help the homeless obtain identification and birth certificates; assist them with applications and services for Social Security, food assistance, health care, mental health care and substance abuse.

In addition to the Tampa Police, other organizations participating in Tampa Community Homeless Outreach include: Working together will include

the following organizations:

Tampa Crossroads

Catholic Charities

Hillsborough County Homeless Services

Northside Mental Health Outreach

Gracepoint Mental Health

Veterans Hospital Outreach team

ACTS Outreach

DACCO Outreach

Hillsborough County Code Enforcement

Florida Department of Motor Vehicles

Salvation Army

St. Vincent DePaul

Video via Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office