Chu Presents $900K Federal Grant to Pasadena Outreach Response Team

Congresswoman Judy Chu with city officials and representatives from PORT (Photo City of Pasadena)

U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu presented a $900K funding award to the Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT)!

By News Desk

The ceremony took place at the Robinson Park Recreation Center Multi-Purpose Room (1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave). The $900,000 grant was received through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, via Congressional Directive Spending allocated by Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28).

PORT

Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT), a collaboration between four agencies: the Pasadena Public Health and Fire departments, Union Station Homeless Services and Huntington Health, provides extensive support to people experiencing homelessness, severe mental illness, substance use disorders, physical disabilities, and complex chronic health conditions in Pasadena.

Since PORT was formed in 2018, team members have used a street-based approach to establish relationships with program participants that build trust over time and allow the team to facilitate access to needed services. PORT added a second team in 2021 that has responded to over 550 emergency 911 dispatch calls for concerns related to people experiencing homelessness and reduced the need for law enforcement response. Each PORT team is comprised of a case manager (social worker), public health nurse, firefighter, and an outreach worker.

PORT has provided extensive support to people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena.  The teams have:

• Connected with over 1500 individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Enrolled 235 participants in public health programs.
• Supported the transition of 51 seniors and transitional-age youth into subsidized low-income or shared housing.
• Scheduled and transported participants to 249 clinical appointments.