Our Quality of Life (QOL) officers reach out with compassion to members of our community who are experiencing homelessness. They build rapport and help to connect folks to services.

QOL Officers Dapello and Stahmann met Billie Darlene Patterson and got to know her over many interactions. Billie had been on and off the street since she was 17 years old and has never had a place of her own. Billie expressed a strong desire to get off the street, so Officers Dapello and Stahmann committed to helping her find a home.

They worked with the Multi-Service Center to obtain a Section 8 housing voucher. Unfortunately, the voucher expired before Billie was able to find an apartment, but Officers Dapello and Stahmann were not going to let that stop them from helping Billie find housing.

Through the LEAD program, Billie was connected with Alama Family Services who helped Billie find an apartment. Officers Dapello and Stahmann helped drive her to housing appointments and obtain documents needed to secure housing. This June, Billie received the keys to her own home for the first time in her life. 

Intent on continuing to help Billie, Officers Stahmann and Dapello, worked alongside Christian Outreach in Action (COA), a local non-profit, to transform the empty apartment into a home. With assistance from fellow Quality of Life Officers Schneider and Cazares, they picked up a sofa bed, other furniture, and household supplies, which they then transported to her new home.

Billie was beyond grateful for everyone’s support and is excited for this next chapter of her life.

To learn more about homelessness resources, please see the links below:

City of Long Beach Homelessness Resources

Quality of Life team

Multi-Service Center

LEAD program

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