Elevated Outreach
for Those in Crisis
About E3
E3’s a unique program for high risk homeless individuals in crisis. It’s an enhanced approach to homeless outreach that's personalized and empowering. The individual in crisis is paired with their own E3 team, made up of the experts they need to reach safety and stability. But instead of working on behalf of the individual, the E3 team empowers them to take an active role in achieving their own stability. The team provides education, encouragement and enforcement support (the 3 E’s), while monitoring the individual’s progress and helping tear down obstacles they may come across.
E3 Focus Areas
Examples of E3 in Action
Lisa faced chronic homelessness—years of instability due to mental illness and substance abuse. Her attempts at stability only led to evictions, each time making it harder for her to secure housing.
EPD’s mental health liaison, Mario Reid, recognized the complex barriers Jane faced. He knew her situation needed the E3 approach. Officer Reid brought together a supportive team to collaborate with Lisa. It included support from Vanderburgh County’s Mental Health Court and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service (DATS), along with Aurora, ECHO and Southwestern.
The E3 team worked with Lisa, not around her. She remained at the center of the process, voicing her personal goals around achieving sobriety, court compliance and securing stable housing. Officer Reid advocated for Lisa, helping her access emergency shelter and gain a second chance at permanent housing, despite her eviction history.
Today, Lisa continues working toward long-term recovery and stability with the support of her care team and restorative justice pathways like Mental Health Court.
A severe mental health disorder brought considerable instability to Amy’s life. Her mental struggles led to chronic homelessness, encouraged illegal activity and often made Amy the target of victimization. Unfortunately, it’s a scenario that’s pretty common for women with mental health disorders who live on the streets.
Using the E3 approach, CPU successfully removed Amy from her unsafe situation. They quickly engaged ECHO for emergency shelter and Southwestern for intensive mental health treatment for Amy.
These quick and crucial actions helped start Amy on the road to safety and stability. She eventually moved into an assisted living facility where she receives treatment, supportive services and shelter.
Mental illness combined with substance abuse can lead to legal issues and homelessness. That was the case for Ted and Joe, whose circumstances led to outstanding arrest warrants that put them at risk for incarceration. The E3 team helped the men navigate the legal system and advocated on their behalf to determine alternatives to jail. These alternatives didn’t jeopardize Ted and Joe’s ability to secure or maintain housing, which often is a big obstacle when it comes to achieving independence.
Mike was a veteran in crisis with active suicidal intent. The CPU and ECHO provided a quick E3 response to locate Mike and secure his safety. They met at Brentwood Springs, where the severity of Mike’s situation became evident. Mike disclosed owning multiple firearms and reported experiencing extreme, persistent suicidal ideations. Understanding the urgent risk, the CPU worked through the court system to temporarily confiscate the firearms under Indiana’s red flag law, ensuring the veteran’s immediate safety. With intensive intervention and treatment, Mike stabilized and has remained housed while continuing to receive mental health care.
During a severe mental health crisis, Angie went from living on the streets to an emergency shelter for women. She needed safe housing, but her mental health situation created a crisis at the shelter, impacting the well-being of everyone there. In response, the E3 team worked together to assess and de-escalate the crisis, ultimately stabilizing Angie through hospitalization. Following the medical intervention, Angie was able to return to the shelter, where she continues to receive support services aimed at helping her secure permanent housing.
Like Mike, John was a veteran in crisis—severe crisis. In fact, John had explicitly expressed intentions of provoking law enforcement in an effort to end his own life. Suicide by cop. E3 swiftly intervened at the scene, working with law enforcement experts to de-escalate the situation and encourage John to seek treatment. John voluntarily surrendered and agreed to participate in treatment at Deaconess Cross Pointe. The coordinated response prevented a potentially tragic outcome while personally connecting John with the immediate mental health treatment he needed.