Pasadena Health Director Sees Promising Results in City’s Outreach Response Team Initiatives Addressing Homelessness

Pasadena Public Health  Department Acting Director Manuel Carmona said the Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT) has shown “promising results” in linking people experiencing homelessness to resources and services. 

Launched in July 2019, PORT’s goal is to identify individuals impacted by chronic homelessness, living with chronic health conditions, diagnosed with mental health,  substance use disorders and assist them in moving off the streets into permanent housing.

The PORT team consists of firefighters from Pasadena Fire Department, a case manager/social worker from PPHD, a peer navigator from the Union Station Homeless Services and a Registered Nurse from Huntington Hospital.

In July 2021, the City added a second PORT team dedicated to responding to 911 dispatch calls.

According to the city manager’s newsletter, from July 2019 to August 2023, PORT has helped 76 people transition to housing, 109 people enrolled in detox and rehabilitation programs and responded to 1,044 police dispatch calls related to people experiencing homelessness. 

According to the report, “the program’s results have prompted widespread interest in the model.” PORT has also helped PPHD secure several grant awards to support the program. 

Recently, PPHD secured additional grant funding through Proposition 47 and Congresswoman Judy Chu through the Congressional Directive Spending program administered by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

In Fiscal Year 2024, PORT’s program costs are projected to total $1. 19 million.

The recent homeless count shows that 556 people are experiencing homelessness in Pasadena in 2023, up from 512 people in last year’s count.

The City reported 527 people experiencing homelessness in 2020 and 542 in 2019. There was no count in 2021 due to the pandemic.

Last year, 310 people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena were permanently housed.

PORT welcomes direct referrals from the community and encourages residents to contact the program if they see someone in need of support by calling(626)604-6693. PORT responds Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.