• Developing Assertive Community Action Teams that will proactively seek out street people and try to convince them to get into programs that will help them end their homeless condition.

While sympathetic to the cause, some council members wondered if it could really be accomplished. Carlton Christensen said he has a homeless, drug-addicted cousin who refused to get help and seems to want to remain homeless.

"How do you get somebody who's chronically homeless like that?" Christensen said.

DePaulis said the community action teams will be highly specialized workers, experts in convincing people to leave the streets and get help.

Of course, the big issue will be funding, and such an ambitious plan will take money.

"It's expensive but it is what we consider the best model," DePaulis said. "We need to raise money."

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com