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Homeless Helpers
updated: Mar 22, 2013, 11:59 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Last night while taking a walk around West Beach, an obviously homeless young woman approached us asking for money. She was clearly not "stable" - no shoes on her feet, rambling on about not wanting to steal but needed to steal because she has nothing, how her "partner" had been arrested and now she was alone... but we had no idea who to call. We didn't want to call the police. So who do you call? (yes I know, Bum- Busters...) Is there some agency in town that would have picked her up and provided a place to clean up and sleep?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 388307	2013-03-22 12:22 PM
Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
ROGER DODGER	2013-03-22 12:27 PM
You could have called police when you saw her and requested a Welfare check from the police department, But now now..
COMMENT 388327	2013-03-22 12:32 PM
commongroundsb.org are very helpful folks
ROGER DODGER	2013-03-22 12:34 PM
But not now...
COMMENT 388335P	2013-03-22 12:41 PM
What does "But not now..." mean, not in the daytime?
COMMENT 388339	2013-03-22 12:47 PM
Could this be the missing woman from the mental facility?
COMMENT 388347P	2013-03-22 12:55 PM
Call the police let them direct her if appropriate to Homeless Inc - Casa Esperanza. City police have a restorative program that tries to reconnect homeless to their family of origin. Did you know this city spends at least $23 million dollars a year providing homeless services? And those are just the direct costs; not the secondary costs.
COMMENT 388349P	2013-03-22 12:57 PM
Why didn't you want to call the police? That should have been the obvious answer. This is what we pay them for - community safety.
COMMENT 388351	2013-03-22 01:01 PM
Most 'homeless' shelters require alcohol and drug free clients.
COMMENT 388353P	2013-03-22 01:05 PM
Perhaps I am missing something but, are people suggesting we call the police everytime a homeless person asks us for money? I don't mean to be rude, but am asking honestly. Was it because she said something about stealing?
COMMENT 388361	2013-03-22 01:13 PM
This post HAS to be a HOAX... Everyone who lives here know Casa,Rescue Mission,Salvation Army and probably more... Just another vagrant camping on our beaches, but this one is, OMG, a female....
COMMENT 388376	2013-03-22 01:37 PM
She will still be there on the beach doing the same thing next week.
COMMENT 388389	2013-03-22 01:56 PM
I call it the opposite of spineless, 388352. Daring and courageous pragmatism.
COMMENT 388407	2013-03-22 02:23 PM
You should have gave her money! shame on you!.
COMMENT 388411P	2013-03-22 02:24 PM
Yes 53P, I think you are missing something. The original poster claimed she/he was concerned about this person's welfare and did not know what to do. The police are the obvious people to call in this sort of situation. No one said anything about this woman committing a crime; only a concern she might need aid for her own benefit. That is why we have a community police force and they are just a dial away. They have the resources to direct attention to this matter, or not if they don't feel the need for any further intervention. Police are not just crime busters; they are crime preventers and in her alleged condition she herself could possibly become a crime victim herself.
COMMENT 388418	2013-03-22 02:31 PM
My goodness the caliber of humanity in this group is at the lowest I've ever seen. If you're not bagging on the immigrants you're slamming the homeless and you call it daring pragmatism. How brave to marginalize further those less fortunate or able to stand up to your bullying. Where has your human decency gone?
COMMENT 388419P	2013-03-22 02:33 PM
411P - ok, so anytime someone asks me for money and looks like they've hit rock bottom, I should call the police? I see people like this everyday downtown and at the beach. Do we really call the police everytime?
LIZBETH	2013-03-22 03:06 PM
I'd be curious if the OP asked if she wanted help, or a place to stay, etc. I'm guessing she would have refused these things, just wanted money, probably for her next drink/fix. Sad.
COMMENT 388460	2013-03-22 04:09 PM
Welcome to Santa Bumville. There are lots of services as mentioned above. That's why they are all here.
COMMENT 388462P	2013-03-22 04:10 PM
I don't think it was a bad question or that calling the cops is obvious. Calling the cops "on someone" or "for someone" is (unintentionally) scary for some people. Especially if there is an underlying mental health issue present. That being a possibility, I wouldn't know what to do either but would probably conclude that if she is on the streets, she is choosing that lifestyle as there are so many easily accessible resources in town (if someone is motivated enough to follow some rules). A red flag would of course be if he/she were suspected to be at imminent risk of hurting themselves or someone else.
COMMENT 388473	2013-03-22 04:26 PM
I once contacted the police in such a situation where a person had just become homeless and just needed a ride to a facility. The police told me if I wanted to help I could give the person a ride myself. They would not do anything to help.
COMMENT 388484	2013-03-22 04:54 PM
Compassion and clear, fair and logical thinking aren't really Edhat commenter's strengths, are they? My goodness, you'd think y'all were perfect specimens who never had a trouble in their lives. Bully for you. But that doesn't mean people aren't mentally ill/addicted, etc etc and it certainly doesn't mean you're better than people TRYING to HELP.
COMMENT 388493	2013-03-22 05:07 PM
Might have been the same girl walking up santabarbara st at Haley with a modelo in her hand pacing the yellow line in traffic. At 10am. But she had a smile on her face. Transition house, casa, rescue mission like others said.
COMMENT 388499	2013-03-22 05:20 PM
I too would be concerned about a young woman who seemed disoriented and would call the police for her safety NOT because I am heartless, but because our police are trained to help others who might be at risk. She clearly falls into this category. Did you ever think that maybe her family may have reported her missing and that the police would also check to see if this is the case? A young disoriented woman on the streets alone is a target for the thugs out there.
COMMENT 388535	2013-03-22 07:35 PM
If you allow give her help thats cool but her "arrested partner" will eventually be involved too. Just sayin' be careful.
COMMENT 388539	2013-03-22 07:41 PM
You should refer her to: CASA ESPERANZA: 816 Cacique St Santa Barbara, CA 93103 (805) 884-8481 SB RESCUE 535 E. Yanonali Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103 Phone: 805-966-1316
COMMENT 388593P	2013-03-23 06:47 AM
When you see a vulnerable person in trouble and it would be risky to handle the situation yourself, you can call the police and ask for a "check the welfare" of the person. They can get her to a safe place.
COMMENT 388624P	2013-03-23 07:46 AM
Civil discourse requires listening to ideas you don't agree with and may not even want to hear; it is not just listening to those who already agree with you.
COMMENT 388634	2013-03-23 08:18 AM
I have been in a extremely similar situation. In my circumstance I had a woman saying the same things (needed money, rambling about needing to steal and partner leaving her). She was pacing my property at work for hours. My employees grew concerned and I ended up calling the police to see if they could help her. They wouldn't even come out unless I was the property owner and I wanted to remove her from my property. I eventually did ask them to move her for my employee's safety and they came, took her things and crossed the street with them. They said there is absolutely nothing they can do in SB county or anywhere they can take her unless she was making immediate threats to herself or others. The problem is too big and expensive on a public service local level.
ANDY	2013-03-23 08:20 AM
598..exactly my sentiments. Well said.
COMMENT 388658	2013-03-23 09:05 AM
As a community we need to takle this problem by supporting, finically and otherwise, organizations like Casa Esperanza and the Rescue Mission to expand their services and help people like this woman who has hit rock bottom in our society.
COMMENT 388686P	2013-03-23 10:38 AM
As a community we need to send a strong clear message, don't come to our town and be stupid. This woman will most likely not change until she hits rock bottom. Then she will change herself.
COMMENT 388687P	2013-03-23 10:39 AM
Rescue Mission is great. People do not need to be clean and sober; I'd refer anyone there. There is a separate house for women further up in town.
AUNTIE S.	2013-03-23 05:40 PM
539 - these are all good places and would help her. |But what makes you think that someone in her condition would be able to find them and get herself there? and 484 - I'm sincerely curious to know what you would have done. I think calling the police for her safety is strill the best idea.

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