CAM’s Homeless Response Team hosted a training for cadets from SAPD’s community immersion program last week! These cadets will join a group of about 70 SAPD cadets who have completed SAPD’s Community Immersion Program, a unique pilot program that sends cadets out into the neighborhoods where they will eventually be assigned.

The goal is to have them form bonds with or at least familiarize themselves with area stakeholders — including local businesses, neighborhood associations, nonprofit organizations and religious and civic leaders they’ll likely be interacting with. For 14 weeks, cadets enrolled in the program will spend about two hours per week at various locations.

Typically, cadets are assigned to different substations across the city according to need, but the pilot also allows cadets to know where they will end up once they graduate. By showing cadets different stakeholder perspectives, CAM hopes all officers and community members can avoid the kind of negative interactions and perceptions people may have of this type of homeless population. CAM loves partnering with SAPD in an effort to make San Antonio a better and safer place to live.