Anonymous
Source: City of Goleta
The City of Goleta’s effort to develop its first-ever comprehensive Homelessness Strategic Plan is building momentum. On Wednesday, November 6, 2019, local stakeholders met at Goleta Council Chambers to share input on the current state of homelessness in the region, service gaps, best practices, future goals and objectives, and service strategies. The meeting precedes a community open house scheduled for December 11, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center located at 5679 Hollister Avenue. The open house is an opportunity for community members to interact one-on-one with City staff and homelessness service providers, as well as share ideas and input on homelessness in our community. Spanish translation will be available.
For many years the City of Goleta has been funding organizations and regional efforts to prevent homelessness or assist those experiencing homelessness. This year alone, the City will devote more than $100,000 on specific efforts to address homelessness. Those efforts include funding and longstanding partnerships with: Freedom Warming Centers, Showers of Blessing, City of Santa Barbara Rental Housing Mediation Program, United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, New Beginnings Counseling Center Safe Parking Program, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), Peoples’ Self-Help Housing, and Transition House. In addition, the City devotes a portion of its annual Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG) towards homelessness services.
Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Addressing the issue of homelessness has been an important priority for the City for a long time. The Homelessness Strategic Plan is an opportunity to enhance and focus the work the City is already doing and will be used as a roadmap to help the Council prioritize and guide funding efforts in the area of homelessness.”
The City of Goleta’s endeavor coincides with the County of Santa Barbara’s effort to formulate the second phase of its community plan to address homelessness on a regional basis.
The City of Goleta seeks public input throughout the strategic planning process and encourages community members to mark their calendar for the open house on December 11, 2019. During this time, staff will also release an online survey seeking input from residents, businesses, service providers, and those who are or who have experienced homelessness. A link will be provided once the survey is released.
City staff want to take this opportunity to thank the community in advance for their time and support of this major effort. For more information, please contact Dominique Samario, Management Analyst for the City of Goleta at dsamario@cityofgoleta.org or 805-690-5126.
The first thing to do is to arrest those who are in possesion of illegal narcotics and force treatment in a locked facility. While addicted the addict cannot/will not hold a job that will allow him/her to live in the area.
Why does no one think to invite the homeless to the table. It gives them a boost to their egos to be able to participate rather than just filling out a survey. Survey after survey has been presented to the people who find themselves without a roof over their heads. So far the surveys go by by. Who knows better what the needs are than the homeless themselves. Just saying.
Nancy, better to complain about either the absurdity of yet another study or the historical failure of Goleta do accept any role in dealing positively with the homeless in its community. Goleta’s policy has been drive them to the county (Noleta or Isla Vista). There is, unfortunately, no reason to think that another study will change this. Just build some transition housing and just provide some overnight parking for RV people. That would do more than any study.
$100,000 this year? How much actually goes to the homeless and creating housing, off street parking or a warming center?
And how much goes to yet another “research project”?
At the Dec 6 meeting of stakeholders a homeless rep stated Goleta does not have a warming center. It was also stated there are 78 people living in their cars on the streets. One persons suggested using the City Hall parking lot, Now that the City of Goleta owns the building that is one less hurdle.
The comment from the officials was, “we’ll look into it”
When asked how long before the homeless actually see any benefits, the group stated that they’d be ready to take action in about a year. They are receatin* their own questionnaire to the homeless and expect to have them collected back in Feb 2020, then they’ll mull them over, then ask for public comment, then get together again to draft an action plan, etc…
Again, how much of that $100,000 is actually going to the homeless?
no wonder they come to SB
Might want to start by calling it what it is – and “homelessness” it isn’t.
A one-time bus ticket to Portland or Phoenix and voucher for $250 redeemable at Portland or Phoenix downtown Wells Fargo branch only is an easy solution.
Hardly. It solves nothing. They are people. They don’t cease to exist. Talk about kicking the can down the freeway.
Nancy – while some homeless will be able to advocate for what they need, many are not. There are many homeless who are mentally ill or substance-addicted and do not have the presence of mind to be aware of what they need. I doubt that the people at this table are experts either, but maybe they could bring in people/agencies who work directly with the homeless and can provide practical solutions.