LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — It was on a recent triple-digit day in a gas station parking lot in Lake Elsinore where employees of Social Work Action Group or SWAG convinced a couple addicted to drugs and living on the street to get help.

What You Need To Know

  • The Social Work Action Group or SWAG is an organization that helps homeless people off the street

  • Since 2017, the group has helped over 3,100 homeless people get off the street

  • According to their data, it takes an average of 13 visits to convince the same homeless individual to take the next step out of homelessness

The organization has been working for years in the Inland Empire to be the connection between getting homeless people off the street, into a place to sleep, and into treatment.  

Since 2017, the group has helped over 3,100 homeless people get off the street.

SWAG Co-Founder Aaron Petroff says SWAG does things differently from other social work programs.

The group makes repeat visits to the streets, stays persistent, builds rapport and trust, and caters to each individual's needs.

According to their data, it takes an average of 13 visits to convince the same homeless individual to take the next step out of homelessness. 

Blaine Carrillo was once homeless and addicted to meth.

He had rejected SWAG's offers of help for a year, but decided to accept it five years ago.

He's now five years sober and an employee of SWAG, helping the very population he once was a part of.

SWAG recently received a $60,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to help them continue their work.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to include the correct grant amount. (Aug. 30, 2024)