Santa Barbara County is participating in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 100-day challenge to reduce homelessness as part of the state’s $2.5 million California Encampment Resolution grant to move people indoors and reduce fire danger and car accicents involving pedestrians.
Encampments along transit corridors are the county’s focus during the 100 days because of the dangers that occur when people reside in those areas, said Lucille Boss, the county’s encampment response coordinator.
“The reason we picked the transit corridor is because it’s affecting safety,” Boss said. “It’s really dangerous for everybody.”
People living in the transit corridors can be hit by cars or impacted by trains passing through, she explained. Boss is working with Caltrans, city housing authorities, Good Samaritan Shelter, and other partners for the 100-day challenge to identify people residing in these areas and move them toward safer housing.
“It requires really frequent and robust engagement in encampments,” Boss said. “If you start to build rapport with them and [by] having a conversation with somebody, and talking about their needs, you are going to progress to build a relationship with somebody.”
Pre-existing relationships make it easier to get people to take a next step toward housing, whether it’s finding an apartment, getting a spot in a shelter, or gathering all necessary documentation, she added.
Through mapping software and data collection, the county estimates that there are about 200 people living along transit corridors. For the challenge, Boss and her team want 40 percent of those individuals document-ready, 60 percent enrolled with a homeless service provider and assigned a housing navigator, 20 people in emergency or temporary shelter, and 20 people in permanent housing. As of Aug. 3, the county had three individuals housed, and the team has until Oct. 14 to reach its goals, Boss said.
“If this works, then that means 20 people are no longer living in dangerous areas along transit corridors, and an additional 20 are in shelters and moving toward housing. The other 40 percent are ideally document-ready [and] on a path to housing,” she added. “It’s how we solve homelessness, by getting to know people, building that relationship, connecting them to services, getting them their documents, and getting them housing-ready.”
Housing options remain a challenge even though the county has rapid rehousing funds, landlord incentives, and incoming housing vouchers, Boss noted.
“An ongoing concern is we need the community to engage, especially to find rental spaces—whether it’s a room in a shared unit or in an apartment,” she said. “If we have no rental subsidies, it would be very unlikely we could get someone into permanent housing.”
People moving out of homelessness often don’t have items like a bed, a sofa, dining table, or even dish soap. Boss encouraged community members to donate items or gift cards that the housing authority could use to purchase those items so when people move in, their homes aren’t empty.
“Having those items or gift cards to Target or any of those places to buy inexpensive but quality household goods is very helpful. They can contact the city housing authority,” she said. “They’re collecting all the items, but not limited to [the] housing authority—they’re sharing donations with other rental authorities as well.”
To coordinate a donation drop-off, contact Alice Villarreal Redit aredit@hacsb.org (805) 897-1036.
Highlight
• The Santa Maria Public Library announced Toddler Time—a high-energy learning experience made for toddlers. Toddlers learn and grow through stories, movement, and music. Toddler Time is for children ages 1 through 3 with caregivers and will be held in the Youth Services Altrusa Theater. Sign up for one of two six-week time slots. The first session will be held Tuesdays at 10 a.m. from Sept. 6 through Oct. 11. The second session will be Thursdays at 10 a.m. Sept. 8 through Oct. 13. The library is located at 421 South McClelland St. Call (805) 925-0994 for more info.
Taylor O’Connor wrote this week’s Spotlight. You can reach her at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 8-15, 2022.
