In just their first year as a unit, the Lubbock Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team has been making strides in their efforts to get more people off the streets and into homes and jobs.

Sgt. Eric Quijada with the HOT unit says when the group started up they weren’t sure of what to expect given this was the first time LPD had a program like this. Quijada says they hoped to have housed at least one person before the end of the year; little did they realize at the time how quickly they would reach that goal.

“We’ve housed 25 people, what that means is either we’ve helped them with social security benefits, any kind of benefits they can get through the state government, and we’ve put them in low income housing if we can,” said Quijada. 
 
Of those 25, some have been put on Greyhound buses by the HOT unit to be reunited with friends and family across Texas, and even a few out of the state. 
 
In addition, the HOT unit has also made 1300 contacts within the homeless community, have assisted PD in nearly 570 calls,  and transported almost 250 people to either job interviews, doctor’s appointments and trips to the grocery store.
 
“The year has been a rollercoaster ride, we didn’t know what we were doing of course we went to training and we learned a lot, but mostly what we did this year was build a relationship with people on the streets and that’s the most important thing.”
 
It’s been an exceptionally busy year for the three-man team, but they say the community has been extremely responsive to their efforts. Folks have filled the HOT office to the ceiling with donations, both gently-used and brand new. 
 
“We were amazed by the community support and that we got the amount of stuff that we got,” said Cpl. Korie Archambault. “We have a lot of coats and hats and scarves already and we’ll go out when the weather is below 32 degrees. We’ll go out at night time and we’ll hand those items out.”
 
The unit shares that while they’re grateful for the outpouring of support and generous donations, that they have too many at this time. For the time being, they are asking community members to donate clothing, sleeping bags, hygiene products (…etc.) to other clothing closets around town:
 
– Green Lawn Church of Christ -5701 19th (806) 795-4466 
(Mon 1:30-3:00pm; Thurs 9:00-11:00am) 

 – Highland Baptist Church -4247 34th St (806) 795-6453
(Tue 1:00-3:00 & Wed 3:30-5:00pm) Baby items only

– Hope Community of Shalom -2005 Ave T (806) 762-0829 (Sunday Only 4:00-5:30pm)

– Lakeridge United Methodist -4701 82nd (806) 794-4015
(Wed 10:00-11:30am)

-Lubbock Dream Center -1111 30th (806) 793-3336
(Tue & Thur 12:00-3:00 & Sat 10:30-noon)

– Lubbock Impact -2707 34th (806) 799-4329
(Wed 1:00-3:00 & 6:00-7:00pm) 

– Mission Lubbock -1711 Upland (806) 687-8452 
 (Tue & Wed 10:00-2:00pm)

– Neighborhood House -1212 13th (806) 741-0459
(Mon-Thur 12:00-1:00pm) Baby items only

-New Millennium Baptist 101 E Queens (806) 632-1367
(Tue & Thur 10:00-1:00pm)

– St Paul’s Thrift House-1510 Ave X (806) 762-4288
(Tue/Wed/Thur/Sat 10:00-1:00 & Fri 10:00-11:30)

– Suzie’s Closet -1701 Parkway Dr (806) 368-8225
(Tue 1:00-4:00pm)

– The Bridge Of Lubbock -1301 Redbud Ave (806)466-2732
(2nd and last Mon Each Month 9:00-noon) Prom Project
 
-Trinity Outreach Center -3027 34th (806) 788-0501 
(Tue-Thur 9:00-11:00)