POMONA, Calif. – It is a question all of Southern California is asking: how to deal with the homeless crisis? In Pomona, a pilot program aims to reunite those living on the streets with their families who live out of the area.

Using state grant money, Pomona police officers offer the homeless a free bus ticket back home.

“They hang out at the parks and we contact them daily,” said Sargent Brian Hagerty with Pomona Police. He is in charge of the quality of life unit tasked with homeless outreach.

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Visiting a hotbed of homelessness at Ganesha Park, Sgt. Hagerty offers help directly to those who need it most.

“This program that we have we offer through Pomona PD is called ‘A Way Home’ and so we try to help the homeless community reunite with their family members,” Sgt. Hagerty told a small group of homeless individuals.

About one person a month has taken a free bus ticket home to places like Texas, Alabama, and Oregon, since the program launched about a year ago. While homeless populations continue to rise in other cities in Pomona the number was down 11 percent during the last yearly count.

Sgt. Hagerty speaks with a homeless woman in the park who says her name is Angie.

“You said you have been homeless for about 10 years right? You said that you are from Washington,” said Sgt. Hagerty.

Angie tells him her daughter recently came from out of state to track her down after 33 years. Sgt. Hagerty offers Angie a bus ticket home, if her daughter can give her a place to stay.

“Would she be willing? Do you have a phone number for her,” he asks.  

Sensing Angie is reluctant to accept help, Sgt. Hagerty lets her know help will be there when she is ready to take it.

“You don’t have to do this now but I am letting you know this is an option for you,” said Sgt. Hagerty.

Moments after wiping away her tears, Angie walks away from Sgt. Hagerty, lays down and picks up a needle. Sgt. Hagerty says addiction is perhaps the biggest barrier to getting people off the streets.

“Most of them do not want the services but you never know. You keep going out there and you try and then all of a sudden they will take you up on that offer,” Sgt. Hagerty said.

People who try to get clean need a support system to succeed and before putting anyone on a bus Pomona PD ensure a support system is in place.

“Our first one was Atlanta, Georgia. We got a phone call from his parents and they were so happy to have him back home. So that was one huge success story,” Sgt. Hagerty said.  

Before they give out a bus ticket, law enforcement reaches out to loved ones to make sure they will have support. If care from loved ones can’t be guaranteed, the city will work with local services to set up a care plan. The bus tickets are paid for by a three year, $4-million grant Pomona received from the state to combat homelessness.

While a bus ticket home cannot guarantee success in starting-over it is a chance, a way for some of Pomona’s homeless to find a way home.