Operation Shelter Me” in Yucaipa: H.O.P.E. Team Connects Unhoused Residents with Services, Makes Five Arrests
SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The Community Service & Reentry Division’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement Team (H.O.P.E.), in partnership with the Department of Aging and Adult Services, executed an operation aimed at outreach and engagement in the City of Yucaipa on Friday, October 24, 2025. The initiative, named “Operation Shelter Me,” was conducted from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and focused on connecting unhoused residents with essential support services, while simultaneously addressing community safety matters.
A primary objective of the operation was to link individuals, especially those with significant mental health conditions, with restorative mental health pathways. Services offered included options for housing, medical care, and mental health treatment.
During the single-day operation, the H.O.P.E. Team made contact with 18 individuals currently experiencing homelessness in the area. The outreach efforts resulted in 12 individuals accepting referral information for various assistance programs, and 8 individuals were successfully connected with local service providers. Furthermore, the operation directly resulted in one individual being housed.
Enforcement actions were also part of the initiative. Four individuals were arrested on the basis of existing in-county warrants. An additional one individual was arrested for the misdemeanor offense of possession of drug paraphernalia (HS11364(a)).
The operation was conducted in the context of recent legislative changes. Proposition 36, titled “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act,” was passed by California voters on November 5, 2024, and became effective on December 18, 2024. This proposition reformed several laws previously established by Proposition 47, introducing new Penal and Health and Safety Codes that law enforcement personnel are authorized to apply during arrests. These new codes provide for enhanced sentencing and restrict the ability of offenders to be cite-released prior to their court appearance.
The H.O.P.E. Team and associated resources are scheduled to continue conducting similar operations across the county over the next year. These efforts are supported by specialized “Community Concerns” funding approved by the County Board of Supervisors, which enables the Sheriff’s Department to address issues such as homelessness, mental illness, and overall community safety. Members of the public who are aware of individuals experiencing homelessness and in need of services are encouraged to contact the H.O.P.E. Team directly.
