Nyla Glover
The San Bernardino County Probation Department’s Shelter Court program spreads services and assistance within the county, helping connect people to the support they need, one exchange at a time. Established in 2017, the program has become known for meeting individuals experiencing homelessness where they are, while helping eliminate some of the obstacles that can stand between them and crucial assistance.
For many of those in the program, the process of receiving help starts with having someone create the connection. Through Shelter Court, Probation staff partners with various resources—court representatives, non-profit organizations, health care providers, community partners, and volunteers—to connect people with outreach services, court access, health care information, and resources that foster rehabilitation, recovery, and stability.
For many participants, the journey begins when Probation staff conduct direct street outreach—engaging individuals who can benefit from Shelter Court and helping them take their first steps toward stability. For some, that step might mean taking care of any outstanding fines. For others, it may mean becoming aware of available programs, accessing health care information, connecting with service providers, or simply learning that assistance is accessible to them.
The Probation Department builds trust through the program by showing up for individuals in a different way—connecting with them through outreach, actively listening to what they need, and helping to guide them toward support that can facilitate their next step. One resident of the program detailed their difficulty with getting clean, crediting the support from the Probation Department, doctors, and other community members as part of their betterment.
“I’m proud of myself because I didn’t think I could do it, but I did,” the participant shared. “You just got to believe in yourself and take it one day at a time.”
This work is strengthened and made possible with help from the many non-profit organizations, agencies, service providers, and volunteers who consciously come together with the same goal in mind—assisting those who are experiencing homelessness come into contact with support that is meaningful, realistic, and within reach. Achieving this takes planning, coordination, and teamwork, though the impact is evident as people are connected to resources and support that they may not have found on their own.
Another participant of Shelter Court shared that one of the most impactful parts of the program was knowing that they had people on their side who did not judge them for past experiences, and the reminder that moving forward is always possible.
By helping people connect with services, address challenges, and take steps toward stability, the San Bernardino County Probation Department is strengthening community relationships and supporting real opportunities for change. Shelter Court is an illustration of what can happen when access, compassion, accountability, and partnership unite.