The San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team (SF HOT) was established in June 2004. Originally the team consisted of 10 experienced caseworkers from the Human Services Agency, the Department of Public Health and the nonprofit organization, Community Awareness and Treatment Services (CATS). The goal was to engage chronic homeless individuals in services that would get them off the streets and into stabilized situations. Caseworkers conduct outreach to those living on the streets and offer benefits such as medical and mental health services, substance abuse treatment, transitional housing opportunities, and, eventually, permanent housing.