Springfield Police are considering a new approach to dealing with the homeless.
The idea is to set up a Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), where specially-trained officers work with health care providers to steer people away from jail and into mental health or substance abuse treatment.
The idea is based on a program in Wichita, Kansas.
One of the HOT Team officers there says the program saves money in the long run by getting homeless people off the streets and helping them be more self-sufficient.
Photo Credit: Kyle Hutchinson / MWFB