Homeless Outreach Efforts

Homelessness is an extremely complex social problem that impacts the quality of life in our community. There are no easy solutions. The Woodland Police Department and elected officials in the City recognize that there is a fine line between homelessness as a social issue and a criminal issue. Many homeless are on the street because of substance abuse, mental illness or both.

HOST Logo

Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST)

Often the disorder issues associated with homelessness are criminal in nature but difficult to enforce. To assist the City provide better service to this at-risk population, the Woodland Police Department has created the Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST). The HOST Team is available to assist the community with homeless-related issues.

As part of a city-wide joint effort the Woodland Police Department has established an email and hotline number for citizens to use to inform us of homeless related issues or concerns. As this is a newly formed program please understand that sometimes because of multiple variables these issues may not be addressed immediately but will instantly be forwarded to our Homeless Outreach Street Team for review. Report issues or concerns to:
Homeless Outreach Street Team
Hotline Phone: 530-661-7879
Email Homeless Outreach Street Team

Note: If the issue is something that requires immediate police attention such as a crime in progress please either dial 911 or 530-666-2411 as this phone line will not be monitored 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Report Illegal Public Conduct

While being homeless is not a crime, many kinds of public conduct are illegal and should be reported to the Woodland Police Department. These include:

  • Aggressive panhandling
  • Behaving in a threatening manner 
  • Being intoxicated
  • Camping or sleeping in parks
  • Consuming alcoholic beverages in certain public places
  • Disturbing the peace by loud and unreasonable noises
  • Fighting
  • Littering
  • Living in a vehicle parked on a public street
  • Loitering
  • Obstructing sidewalks
  • Prowling
  • Soliciting
  • Trespassing
  • Urinating/defecating
  • Using offensive words