In March, WRAL News wrote about a proactive team created by the Raleigh Police Department that shifted focus away from handcuffs, tasers and arrests. The ACORNS unit would instead send social workers alongside officers to handle many calls with underlying issues like homelessness and mental illness.

This type of community policing grew out of the calls to defund police. Instead, cities like Raleigh shifted funding for a kinder, gentler strategy.

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On Tuesday, Raleigh Police updated City Council on their efforts to put a more human face on some crisis interactions.

"ACORNS actually sees people," says leader Lt. Renae Lockhart. "We are all passionate about what we do, and we are making sure that we're seeing the people behind the homelessness, behind the mental health concerns and substance abuse issues."

ACORNS, which stands for Addressing Crises through Outreach, Referrals, Networking, and Service combines five police officers with three social workers to deal with calls that deserve intervention over enforcement.

Since August of 2021, Lockhart said the unit has handled 1,035 calls. They also linked 546 people in crisis to much-needed resources for mental health services, food, family connections and housing.

All easier said than done.

"There is almost no affordable housing in the City of Raleigh, so those vouchers are being recycled back to Raleigh Housing Authority and so those people are still finding themselves experiencing homelessness," said Chelsea Levy, a social worker with ACORNS.

The unit needs more help, so this year's budget includes $800,000 in additional funding for more social workers and officers. This way they can continue replacing punishment, where appropriate, with a helping hand.

"The rapport, the respect, what you've built in the community and I've since seen your interaction with others: It's amazing," said  Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.

Instead of making arrests, officers talked about examples of helping a person track down his birth certificate in Europe, so he could get proper ID to get benefits. They told stories of simply transporting a person to get his medication.

Council members praised the program and made it clear, they want it to grow and do more.

You can learn more on the ACORNS website.