Dave Breitenbucher is, without a doubt, the most hands on council member when it comes to addressing homeless issues in Manteca.

For the past five years, Breitenbucher has volunteered to be a part of community-based teams that twice a month search out the homeless on the streets.

Those teams also include county workers dedicated to address the health, mental, and similar needs of the homeless.

They arrange health care, when needed, and connect them with services such as the Veterans Administration if they are veterans.

But more important, they build relationships one at time.

It may not happen for weeks. It may take months.

Eventually, however, a large number of the homeless they interact with and develop a rapport end up agreeing to go to 555 Industrial Park Drive.

It is there where hundreds of homeless over there past seven years have taken the first step to getting off the streets or being directly reunited with relatives.

Clearly, not all homeless are willing to go that path as Breitenbucher knows all too well.

Breitenbucher is also part of the team participating in the monthly  Quality of Life Operation conducted by the Manteca Police Department that hits the streets in the late afternoon and early evenings.

They check known areas for illegal homeless encampments and look elsewhere as well.

On their last outing on Aug. 9, 10 individuals of which almost all were transients, were arrested on outstanding warrants and taken to jail  for various offenses.

Their belongings were immediately removed and taken to 555 Industrial where they can be reclaimed after get out of jail.

Six others were cited for municipal code violations.

Typically, the citations are for illegal camping.

The individuals are given a choice to move on and get a citation or go to 555 Industrial. Some do opt for the emergency homeless center with sleeping dorms that has day-to-day services and a path to get off the streets.

Those participating in the Aug. 9 operation broke for dinner at 6 p.m.

After they resumed efforts, they had a hard time finding any illegal encampments after scouring the town.

“Manteca is visibly cleaner and there are less encampments,” Breitenbucher said of today versus when he started volunteering to work to get the homeless off the streets five years go.

Breitenbucher noted there are homeless still throughout the city, but the numbers are down and they work to make themselves as invisible as they can.

The councilman noted it is frustrating, but added progress that sticks is made one at a time.

“There have always been homeless,” Breitenbucher said. “Adam and Eve were homeless,”

As for modern times, Breitenbucher said the homeless were known as transients moving from town-to-town looking for work, derelicts, or hobos.

A friend got Breitenbucher to initially volunteer.

But it was his faith-based values he embraces as a member of the Crossroads Grace community congregation that fueled what has become a passion.

“You talk to people one at time,” he said,

His position as a council member with an understanding of all of the laws cities need to follow as well as Manteca’s settlement of a class action lawsuit filed by the homeless 10 years ago, makes Breitenbucher well aware of what law enforcement and communities can do and not do when it comes to homeless issues.

Do not misunderstand.

Breitenbucher, and the City of Manteca as a whole, aren’t just focused on helping get the homeless off the streets. They are also addressing those that are homeless that make it clear they don’t want to follow the rules.

The councilman, like others involved in the effort, can reference stories about those who seemed they would never leave the streets.

One was a homeless man strung out on drugs that was impossible to understand.

But recently through the efforts of the community outreach team, he agreed to go to 555 Industrial.

Breitenbucher said now you can sit down with the man and carry on a conversation.

“I want to be part of the solution,” the retired Manteca firefighter said.

It’s an approach that he believes would serve the community much better if those who are constantly slamming the city’ homeless efforts did more than just sit in front of a computer screen giving their two cents of what he noted is always negative commentary.

While he stressed there will always be a homeless problem, Breitenbucher noted “it has gotten a lot better.”

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com