Compassion on the Streets of Hartford
The Hartford Police Department’s Community Support Unit is a compassion-driven initiative dedicated to serving Hartford’s most vulnerable residents. Since 2015, Officer Barrett has served as a trusted street-level liaison, building meaningful relationships with the city’s unsheltered population. His approach is simple but powerful — offering “a hand up, not a handout” — connecting individuals with the resources, support, and dignity they deserve.
Program Directives
- Direct Street Outreach: Barrett patrols Hartford’s streets, wooded areas, and “hidden” encampments daily to build trust and check on the welfare of unsheltered individuals.
- Essential Supplies: He distributes life-saving gear, including coats, blankets, boots, food, bus passes, and fast-food gift cards.
- Resource Navigation: The program connects individuals to local shelters, medical care, rehabilitation, mental health services, and housing.
- Long-Term Independence: Barrett works to help individuals get back on their feet by assisting with employment, education, and career opportunities.
Request Help
If you encounter someone experiencing homelessness who needs support, you can call the Hartford Police Department directly at (860) 757-4000. If you know someone in need of immediate emergency shelter, calling 2-1-1 is also highly recommended.
Follow Officer Barrett
Partner Gallery
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Support a Noble Cause
Officer Barrett’s mission doesn’t run on goodwill alone — it runs on the generosity of people just like you. His day-to-day operations are largely supported by community donations and meaningful partnerships, including the Footwear with Care non-profit, which helps ensure that Hartford’s unsheltered residents have proper footwear to face the elements. Every coat donated, every gift card contributed, and every partnership formed makes a direct and immediate difference in someone’s life.
View current donation drives and community partners by visiting Hands On Hartford.
