Edhat Staff
Update by edhat staff
11:30 a.m., January 18, 2018
The American Red Cross of the Pacific Coast is explaining why the evacuation center for Montecito mudslide victims was shut down early Thursday morning.
According to spokesperson Jessica Piffero, the decision to close the evacuation center at San Marcos High School was determined by multiple community organizations. “It’s normal, these centers are meant to be temporary, short-term, and it’s natural to transition to recovery,” said Piffero.
She explained that every person inside the shelter was aware of this transition, although they did not have an exact date and time of the transition until Wednesday, each person met with caseworkers to determine an individualized recovery plan, which is customized to determine that specific person’s needs.
“I understand the community is in a difficult place, we’ve been through a lot, and the Red Cross has the absolute best interest of the community,” said Piffero. “We would never throw anyone on the street, we’ve provided all the necessary resources. It’s best not to jump to conclusions.”
When edhat asked if there was a specific incident regarding the closure of the center and possible disturbances by transients, Piffero stated she can’t speak to specifics because of safety reasons and client confidentiality. “It’s typical to see ‘pre-disaster homeless’ in situations like this, but disasters do not discriminate,” said Piffero emphasizing that anyone who comes to the Red Cross will be served and helped.
Edhat readers have questioned the physical donations of clothing, food, supplies made to the Red Cross being taken to thrift stores to be sold for a profit. When asked about this Piffero explained that the local Red Cross does not have the resources to individually sort, clean, and distribute these types of items. Instead, they’ve partnered with other community organizations to aid in this process. Red Cross has joined with Alpha Thrift Store who will process specific items and will issue vouchers back to the Red Cross that can be given to victims who are able to access these items.
The Red Cross thanks everyone for their donations and urges people to continue donating items to the local Foodbank, Unity Shoppe, and Salvation Army as those items will reach those who are displaced.
By an edhat reader
7:41 a.m., January 18, 2018
At 6:00 a.m. Thursday, the Red Cross surreptitiously kicked out all of their evacuees without a cause or a reason at San Marcos High School.
There have been rumors about some type of disturbance caused by a transient, but that hasn’t been confirmed by the Red Cross as they’re not giving an explanation. A Sheriff’s Deputy was on the scene the morning assisting with kicking out the evacuees.
During KEYT’s live morning interview, they were on the scene and a woman who worked for the Red Cross said that “you choose to be homeless.” What is the real story? What’s up Red Cross? We need answers.
Well sounds like they got a free tent out of the deal. For some that may actually be an upgrade to their previous situation. There is a pretty good interview with Mrs. Coley from Red Cross on Noozbird. Ms Coley stated that about two thirds of the shelter population was pre disaster homeless. They are providing more comfortable accommodations for the people who are actually in need and directing the pre disaster homeless to the local resources we have for them. And They get a new backpack filled with snacks and a tube tent. I just spent 800 last year on a nice backpacking setup and a tent. I wish I would have known you could get one for free!
Oh gee that’s wonderful they lost their home all their belongings their families…But HELL THEY GOT A TENT AND A BACK PACK OUT OF IT WITH TOOTHPASTE AND A BRUSH INSIDE THAT’S FRIGGEN WONDERFUL! Maybe they could add a bottle of 2 buck chuck for their first night camping on the East Beach!
They are gonna have to come up with the 2 buck chuck on their own. The people who had homes before are being given access to better accommodations than a shelter. There is no sense taking up an entire school cafeteria to house 10 legitimate evacuees. They can spend less money and provide a nicer experience by putting them in motels or other accommodations. The homeless are no worse off than they were prior to this. like I said some may have been given a free tent. Key word being FREE! Its sad that people are homeless but the red cross is not here to solve our social injustices. They are here for disaster relief.
I don’t give a crap about the people who were not affected by the fire or the mudslide kick their asses out and take care of the Montecito victims…Who the hell are you talking about those bums the Chicago Cubs?
Roger I have to say i know we have sparred a few times. But you can be funny as hell!
No sparring I just sit on folks they squeak real nicely when I do that…Hey who’s down voting me they think they are better than…Much be Cubs fans
I bet Mcdonalds is glad to get some of their customer base back. You can’t beat free. Not even with a week long free coffee refill. Still have to buy the cup. Very bad joke. I will go ahead and down vote it so others can spare the click.
By all means don’t be a people pleaser…You should try McDonalds coffee yourself it’s get for constipation get rid of all that crap you’ve been holding onto for months…
Here I thought the evacuees got kicked out I’d been had….
I just heard a story about a guy in Ventura who lost part of his home so he went to the Red Cross for help they got him and his family a motel room but he had to cut them a sizable check and then some for the help….The guy that told me this one of my best friends believe it or not a Marine and a republican the only one I trust. I believe that story it’s puts all this other stuff in perspective for me UI usually only donate to women’s shelters, and veterans anyway.
If you spent 800 dollars on camping equipment, I sincerely doubt you would be happy with what comes as a donation!! Be real.
My main question has been: Why did Red Cross shelter leave SBCC when their Spring semester didn’t begin until January 22?!!
SM winter break ended Jan. 2. Seems SBCC should be brought into this conversation. I haven’t fully trusted Red Cross since their monetary public crisis.
I am sure we will get answers, just be patient.
There was a rumor that this was due to “Clients” demanding the right to smoke pot at the shelter which happens to be a school. I am going to take stab and say that they are going to assist people individually because legally they don’t want to touch the whole marijuana legalization thing or lets say at the very least medical marijuana needs accommodation seeing as they re a nationally run charity. I kinda doubt someone truly seeking shelter would raise a fuss about being able to use pot at a shelter… Just go take a walk on the bike trail to more mesa. Sounds like transients that have nothing to loose but I am sure we will get someone with first hand on here upset by this.
Wow, can’t believe these comments. People lost their homes, loved ones, everything… they’re promised a place to go with the Red Cross, then at 6am told to leave. Did anyone see the report this morning of an elderly man with a walker in his pajamas? This is outrageous.
Red Cross told KEYT they re providing individual recovery plans. They are likely just trying to help those who are actually affected. The man in the pajamas looks bad for sure. I am hopeful they have a recovery plan for him. This was due to an incident yesterday that the red cross stated made either the staff or some of the clients feel unsafe (sheriffs were called out multiple times). Very sad that our troubles balancing providing services for transients over the years has now likely resulted in our community being unable to openly provide services for disaster victims. Its not the red cross’s job to police who needs assistance and when they re put in a situation like it sounds like they were they are likely just trying to put structure in this so its not a free for all bring your pot stash and hang out scene. Very sad and I am hopeful they will be able to provide services for those who need it.
So here’s the deal-i-o… The coalition of Santa Barbara Homeless, (NOT Montecito “displaced”) are the primary recipients of everyone’s good -natured “help thy neighbor” benefits…. They are opportunists that will, unfortunately get a lot of the donated funds, food and shelter that people think will be directed to the Montecito “displaced”…
Homeless Inc. is making out like bandits during this time of disaster.
They had 32 people in the shelter last night. Lets say on average they pair… So with at the most 16 hotel rooms needed and kids needed to go back to school they re probably just going to help people individually. Perhaps hotels perhaps alternative housing. Living in a shelter long term is nothing to look forward to. The assertion they are pulling the rug out from under people is a pretty big leap seeing as its not yet 9 am and its sunny and nice weather currently. If it starts to rain tonight and we see old ladies and kids on the street then there are less than 32 of them and I think we can complain later and just help out. I don’t see that happening but if so think about what you can do and less about the demands you have on other and you will probably be more satisfied in life.
During the painted cave fire the red cross put people up in motels…I’d be pissed my home was ruined can’t go home then booted out of a shelter 6am…
Plenty of abandoned housing in Montecito for squatters. Probably better than out along the freeway where Caltrans will dump mud on your campsite.
What agenda are you talking about… (as I pack a nice bowl of Sativa in the comfort of my home)? This was stated as a rumor and you can watch KEYT and the lady who drove up from carp who stated that is what she was told by clients where were there yesterday. So I have no idea where you get off saying there is no way. Not everyone that smokes pot is respectful about it. I would say a majority are but that does not make it impossible for people to be disrespectful at a shelter and create a need to separate out the good from the bad. If it was feces they would have dealt with it at the time not just have everyone hang out till 6 and shuffle them out. You can attack KEYT and the poor lady at the shelter if you wanna start barking form proof. I never said I had any… Just conveying “rumor” that seem to have stirred you up.
Maybe State street should be evacuated too people crap there all the time.
I agree.
Just watched KEYT. More rumors but it sounds like one of the “clients” who some speculate is a transient was outraged for supposedly being told he cannot smoke a the school decided to storm through the school and disturbed a class in session. If you had kids going to school at SM you could probably understand why this is an issue. Considering the red cross’s position this story makes sense. They don’t want to comment because technically they have to protect the privacy of their residents. It doesn’t matter what the person wanted to smoke he was at a school. I don’t think the red cross is throwing anyone out. There are services for people who need help the Red cross are unfortunately dealing with the whole if you build it they will come scenario and I am not talking about the 1919 White Sox.
Leave the White Sox out of it.
So, if everyone was alerted ahead of time, according to the Red Cross spokesperson, why were people kicked out at 6am? Why was that elderly guy leaving in PJs? If this was decided yesterday, why the sudden early morning boot? Something is not adding up.
Its a school. That was addressed in the statement. Children were having the school over run by homeless people demanding to be able to smoke. How does that not add up? They did not want any further incidents.
Then why not arrange for people to leave Thursday afternoon or late morning, or Wednesday when they decided to close? Why 6am?
What time does school start? They had homeless people disturbing the peace at a school which is mean to be there for children to learn. They worked with people to make recovery plans. Some people’s recovery is simply going back to the life they lived before be it on the streets or back to their homes. Some have much more complicated situations that the red cross and others are there to assist with. What is hard to understand about school being disrupted and the decision being made to do individual recovery plans instead of providing free meals and a place to sleep for anyone who can make it to the corner of hollister and turnpike?
I agree it’s weird because I remember waaaaay back when the Painted Cave fire happened I worked in one of the motels people were put up in and they were there for a lot longer than a week…Too weird not nice unless they were put up in motels like before.