Martinez takes creative approach to tackling homelessness

Martinez is a small town by Bay Area standards, but it is at the crossroads of Contra Costa County’s mental health and criminal justice systems and the special challenges they create for efforts to combat homelessness.

When someone gets booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, or taken to one of the medical facilities serving psychiatric patients, they typically get released in downtown Martinez. Sometimes it’s at odd hours, when public transit may not be available to get them home.