HOT (Homeless Outreach Team) in San Diego serves as the central point of contact for outreach and engagement services for people experiencing chronic homelessness and issues with alcohol addiction. The initiative operates through teams that engage homeless individuals and connect them with the appropriate services for addressing their causes for homelessness and finding safe housing. Teams consisting of county clinicians, police officers, and county mental health eligibility technicians tackle a range of problems, such as substance abuse, lack of job training, and psychological concerns.
Chronically homeless persons with a substance dependency may also receive assistance from the Serial Inebriate Program (SIP) if they become arrested. Established in January 2009, the program focuses on reducing the number of people going in and out of emergency rooms, detention centers, and county prisons due to a problem with chronic alcoholism. The program is a joint effort between the city, the San Diego County Superior Courts, the San Diego Police and Sheriff's Departments, and San Diego County Health and Human Services and Mental Health Systems.