Mayor says county-funded Homeward Bound program helped 107 participants and saved jail costs

Mayor Walt updated the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 14 about the Homeward Bound program, which the county funded with a $25,000 commitment last year.

The mayor said the program recorded 107 participants in the last six months, a 143% increase compared with the prior six-month period. He said 37 participants accounted for 184 arrests in Hamilton County and presented a conservative calculation of avoided detention costs: using an assumed inmate cost of $80 per day and an average stay of 15 days, the mayor said that six months of program activity equated to an estimated $221,000 in tax dollars saved.

The mayor credited the downtown alliance and program lead Steve Brooks with outreach and individualized connections that helped people return to family and stable housing. He said the district attorney's office, the courts and homeless health care accounted for more than 60% of referrals into the program.

Commissioners thanked the mayor for the update. The report was entered into the record and will inform future budget discussions and coordination with partner agencies.