Sacramento County’s Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART) is a field and shelter based outreach team that supports individuals experiencing homelessness get linked to behavioral health services. The team, which consists of Mental Health Counselors and Behavioral Health Peer Specialists, engages individuals in the community connecting them to vital resources including mental health treatment, substance use treatment, medical care, shelter, and more.
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Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART)
What HEART does
HEART focuses on outreach, engagement, and connection to services. The team:
Engages people experiencing homelessness via street and shelter outreach
Builds trust over time through consistent and repeated outreach
Conducts behavioral health and substance use screenings
Connects people to mental health and substance use prevention and treatment services
Refers people to shelter and housing navigation resources
Helps people access medical care, including Medi-Cal
Much of the work is done in person, through outreach and direct engagement.
How to Refer to HEART
Referrals may come from:
- Community members
- Family or friends
- Case managers
- 211
- Community-based organizations
- Public agencies
- Interested individuals
Who This Program Serves
HEART primarily supports:
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
- Individuals who are chronically homeless
- Individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder
Applicants are assessed based on level of need.
The Front Door to Behavioral Health Bridge Housing
Homelessness is a housing issue. But Sacramento County recognizes the significant relationship between behavioral health wellness and housing stability. In 2023, Sacramento County received funding for Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH). HEART manages all referrals into BHBH interim housing beds.
For more information, visit Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH).