This week, we’re looking at both sides of community response. From funding and zoning barriers that can stop outreach in its tracks to co-responder programs connecting hundreds of people to treatment, housing, and support, these stories show what can happen when the right systems are in place, and what happens when they aren’t.

A $400,000 study recommends more affordable housing, stronger homelessness prevention and better coordination across shelters, healthcare, justice agencies and other service providers.

Remnant Church of Sarasota stopped providing showers, laundry and most meals to as many as 130 people a day after county officials said the outreach violated residential zoning rules.

An opinion piece argues that criminalizing homelessness perpetuates a costly cycle of arrests and incarceration, while supportive housing offers a more effective and less expensive long-term solution.

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Westfield, Massachusetts, has approved a $317,457 grant to continue its police department’s mental health co-response program. The program embeds two licensed mental health clinicians from Behavioral Health Network with police to respond to people experiencing mental health crises. What began as one co-responder working just 16 hours per week has expanded to two full-time clinicians providing coverage Monday through Friday. In 2026 alone, the team responded to 600 calls for service, connecting people with immediate mental health assessments, interventions and community resources. City officials praised the program’s success, with one councilor suggesting Westfield eventually bring the positions in-house and potentially expand the team even further.

Decatur County, Georgia’s co-responder program is turning 911 crisis calls into longer-term connections to mental health care, housing and other services. Licensed counselor Kristi Meade works alongside the Sheriff’s Office and Bainbridge Public Safety, monitoring crisis calls and following up with individuals within 48 to 72 hours. Since launching in 2025, the program has worked with more than 298 people experiencing severe mental illness, substance use or homelessness. Of those individuals, 211 have received inpatient or outpatient treatment, while 14% have been connected to housing and 16% to employment. The program gives officers alternatives to jail or the emergency department while helping address the underlying needs that may contribute to repeat crisis calls.