HEART Birmingham hits the streets to address homeless concerns
Homelessness is still a concern in Birmingham. On Jan. 6, HEART (Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team) launched to address those concerns.
米兰体育 13 was granted permission to accompany outreach teams to see how their mission works.
A HEART team received a concerned call about homeless activity on Birmingham's southside Tuesday morning. When we arrived, we found a couple was staying in an abandoned home. The outreach team told us someone called from the mayor's office.
When the couple saw the station's camera, they initially refused help. After the outreach team spent some time getting to know them, the couple agreed to talk to the representatives.
HEART plans to get the couple into drug addiction services in the coming days.
"People are like, 'Who are you, you coming over into my space,'" said Artie Gilbert, Birmingham operations director. "This is their real living quarters."
Since HEART Birmingham officially launched, officials said they have engaged 204 people, provided 435 services, and placed 10 people with a housing provider.
Earlier this month, city officials announced the safe sleep pilot program for chronically unhoused residents. As part of it:
"Urban Alchemy will receive $1.5 million for operating costs for up to two sites for a combined 30-60 micro-shelters. They are a social enterprise nonprofit that provides career pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals. Their vision is to create a 鈥淲ellness Village鈥� housing model that includes an intentionally designed site and landscaping that creates a peaceful, safe environment for the residents, a service-rich program model with care coordination. Currently, they provide services across the country."