FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 6, 2023

       
Contact: Julia Peterson, Office Assistant/PIO (281) 894-0151 [email protected]

CCFD STATION 25 WELCOMES HART

CYPRESS, TX – As of Thursday June 15, 2023, personnel from the HART teams will begin responding from Cypress Creek Fire Department Station 25.

“The HART program aims to improve community health and safety by quickly providing response to residents experiencing homelessness, behavioral health issues, or non-emergency health or social welfare concerns, and to reduce unnecessary law enforcement or hospital-based interventions for non-emergent 911 calls.” (https://publichealth.harriscountytx.gov/chvps/hart)

In their pilot year of operations (March 2022 – March 2023), HART personnel served 1,362 residents on scene and successfully secured nearly 400 social service connections to citizens in need.

HART currently has six teams, each staffed with a Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). These two-person teams operate in 10-hour shifts from 7 am - 12 am, 7 days/week. Kathi Yost, Director of Operations with DEMA, says the organization has hopes of moving to 24/7 operation in the District I area soon.

HART personnel have been operating out of former Ponderosa Fire Station 61 and are now working to expand their service area. Having a foothold at CCFD Station 25 will help to improve response times and increase their coverage.

CCFD Fire Chief, Richard Lieder, shared a brief message with the department ahead of the HART teams’ arrival, where he stated, “the HART crews are a valuable part of the first responder community, and they do great work. Please welcome them into our stations and make them feel at home”.

For more information, please reach out to Julia Peterson, Office Assistant/PIO, at (281) 894-0151 or via email: [email protected].