Operation REACH
Operation REACH, a pilot program of Opening Doors 2020, is designed to assist people experiencing homelessness in the downtown San Jose Business Corridor with outreach services. We’ll use your request information to dispatch our mobile homeless resource unit to the area.
Our mission
The goal of Operation REACH is to provide assistance to homeless individuals who are looking for support services in the downtown business corridor. Our mobile unit can help homeless residents find emergency shelter, clothing, showers, laundry service, meals, medical services, case management, employment training and more.
For medical or mental health emergencies, crime or illegal activity, please call 911.
For services like bulky item pickup, illegal dumping or graffiti removal, please contact City of San Jose at (408) 945-3000.
Operation REACH does not replace homeless encampment reporting protocols. Please contact homelessconcerns@sanjoseca.gov.
Where do we serve?
We’ll respond to requests that are located within the downtown San Jose Business Corridor bordered by Julian Street, 7th Street, Williams Street and Almaden Boulevard.
WHEN SHOULD I FILL OUT AN OUTREACH REQUEST?
Did you see someone experiencing homelessness who needs help? Notice a homeless neighbor who seems to be struggling with their physical and/or mental health? Then you can help them by filling out an outreach request and alert us as to any specific concerns you may have regarding the person’s well-being. As outreach capacity is limited, requests for those with more serious medical and/or mental health needs may be prioritized. Service is limited to the downtown San Jose Business Corridor.
WHAT DO OUTREACH WORKERS DO?
Outreach workers have many different skills including homeless services navigation, mental health first aid, motivational interviewing, and trauma informed care, among others. Some teams even have physical health, mental health and substance use professionals. Outreach teams start by building a trusting relationship with and determining the needs of people living on the streets. Their efforts can be as simple as helping someone experiencing homelessness get an ID card or as complex as helping to meet medical and mental health needs. But the ultimate goal of outreach services? To help people who are homeless move from the streets into a permanent home.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HELP SOMEONE?
Some people may require significant time to build trust. Others may be more readily open to help. Regardless, everything we do is in partnership with those we serve, and is done in a way that fosters dignity and self-determination. Until there’s more shelter and affordable permanent housing, the process to get people indoors is slower than we would like. The commitment of our mobile outreach unit, combined with expanded housing opportunities, will make a huge difference.
WHEN DO OUTREACH WORKERS WORK?
This is a pilot project and our mobile unit usually work during daylight hours due to safety and because this allows outreach workers to help homeless residents find emergency shelter, clothing, showers, laundry service, meals, medical services, case management, employment training and more. Current schedule is Monday and Thursday from 10am-3pm.
CAN I GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT HAPPENED?
If you provide your email address, we will let you know we received your request and when it was fulfilled. We are required by law to protect the privacy of those we serve. Therefore, we are unable to share updates (unless the client allows us to). However, if you agree to be contacted, we may reach out to you to ask additional questions that will help us locate and connect with the person referred. We do our best to respond to your request, but in some cases, the person may initially refuse our help or we may not be able to locate the person in time to provide the assistance they need.
Need more information?
Opening Doors 2020
598 North 1st Street, Suite A
San Jose, CA 95112
info@od2020.com