It might not seem like much, but Manteca Police Department’s most recent Quality of Life Operation ended with three homeless individuals agreeing to take the first step to get off the streets.

The three took advantage of available beds at the Manteca emergency shelter where they can access programs His Way conducts to help the homeless get to the point they can help support themselves and/or secure shelter..

It is the largest number to do so since the police were able to start the night sweeps of illegal camping after the United States Supreme Court last year ruled cities can enforce such ordinances regardless of whether there are available beds in a shelter for the homeless.

Previously, the department was successful in getting one or none into the homeless shelter during the sweep.

The July12 effort also resulted in eight individuals being arrested with another five issued citations.

The homeless are given the option of moving on, being cited, or being resourced into the His Way program that the city financially underwrites.

The police typically conduct the Quality of Life Operation once a month. They are usually joined by animal services as well as Manteca Property Services the city contracts with to clean up illegal encampments.

That is in addition to the daily efforts off the department’s two community resource officers assigned to working to get the homeless off the streets and addressing quality of life problems they create.

Since adding the dedicated officers, Manteca Police has helped get well over 100 homeless off the street as well as make arrangements for some to be reunited with relatives willing to take them in.

The capacity of the shelter was recently increased from 50 to 75 with the addition of a third portable dorm.

Manteca’s municipal leadership has charted a course that includes having homeless services available instead of just enforcing anti-camping laws.

The reason is simple. The city’s goal is to reduce homelessness and get them off the street.

That not only improves the quality of life of the homeless but of everyone in the community.

Pursuing only a citation and forcing illegal campers to move on fails to reduce the impact the homeless have on the city.

The last point in time count Manteca conducted in January 2024 placed the local homeless count at 238.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com