(stock photo)
Source: County of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County, the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care (CoC), and the Northern Santa Barbara County United Way invite volunteers to participate in the countywide 2020 Homeless Point-In-Time Count from 5:30-8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. The Point-In-Time Count is the annual count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given day.
Teams of volunteers and experts will canvas assigned routes throughout the county and will briefly document who is experiencing homelessness. This information is used to plan local homeless assistance systems and raise public awareness. Volunteers will be trained to help count on the survey day. To volunteer, please sign up at www.LiveUnitedSBC.org. Additional training information will be posted on the website.
“We can’t do this without volunteers,” said Emily Allen, Director of Homeless and Veteran Impact Initiatives for the United Way Home for Good Santa Barbara County. “Santa Barbara County residents have proven they know that everyone in this community counts.”
Point-In-Time Count Trainings – Learn about this year’s Count and how to get involved:
- Carpinteria/Summerland: 6-7:30 p.m. Thurs., January 23
- Goleta: Wednesday, 6-7:30 p.m. Wed., January 15
- Isla Vista: Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m. Tues., January 21
- Lompoc: 6-7:30 p.m. Thurs., January 16
- Santa Barbara: 9:30-11 a.m. Sat., January 11; and 6-7:30 p.m. Wed., January 22
- Santa Maria: noon-1:30 p.m. Thurs., January 16
The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
United Way is a community of donors, advocates, volunteers, and partners who fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. Our Home For Good Santa Barbara County program supports a Coordinated Entry System, a no-wrong door, countywide system that engages and connects individuals and families experiencing homelessness to the optimal resources for their needs. We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home for good.
All are welcome; please go to www.LiveUnitedSBC.org and let us know you plan to participate.
Also Read
- Goleta Holding DUI Checkpoint on Friday, June 5
- Vehicle Rolls Over After Colliding with Parked Car on W. Mission Street
- Ventura Kicks Off Week-Long Celebration Honoring America’s 250th Anniversary
- Forest Service Debuts New Recreation Mobile App
- Be Part of Protecting California’s Biodiversity During Invasive Species Action Week
Of course there will be an undercount. How else can they justify the well-paid Homeless Inc crowd is worth their grants and bonuses.
Sounds like a dangerous job. Better get your shots up to date and carry mace.
AN 03, 2020 11:15 AM. Well stated.
Will this break down findings into different categories of homeless people? They are not all the same. There are many who actually choose to be homeless (urban “travelers”). Any assistance should be based on need, not just the fact they’re currently homeless.
11:15 and others: Actually providing the homeless with housing is the most effective solution to the problem. Imagine that. Actually the majority of homeless people are not in need of involuntary institutionalization. About 40% have some sort of mental health issue but they are not incapable of caring for themselves if simple resources are available to them. And, actually, some of the homeless should be institutionalized. This is a form of housing too. And to 4:19 pm, this fearmongering stuff is getting to be pretty old hat. What evidence do you have that homeless people present a more than average risk of violence to the general public? Actually, housed people commit the most acts of violence (against their cohabitants by and large). Unfortunately, “the count” is just another bureaucratic step to pretend to be doing something. We know that there is not enough to care for all the needy, why use some of what is available to count who won’t be helped!? Better to go out and serve someone’s needs.
The number counted justifies applications for government funding which keeps the government workers safe in their desk jobs doing studies. Follow the money.
1:00 pm: The laws you suggest we enact are generally in place already. Please try and get information before you assume something simpley because it is convenient to your theories. No homeless person is excused from legal prosecution for lighting fires in non-fire areas for example. Some anti-homeless laws are not enforced because the courts recognize that sleeping somewhere is a basic human right and you cannot criminalize such an act when the accused is without alternatives. This stuff is not so simple and people are trying to solve the problem. Such efforts are hindered by the angry and judgmental comments of folks like you.
Wow!..you guys are SO spot-on that it’s eerie.
You do NOT want to be out here counting homeless folks…
The places one would find us, are rife with every creepy, sticky, gooey & seeping rusty needle nightmare you can imagine.
Whomever stated; “Let the pros do it”..is right.
Houses are available in this country for anyone who wants one. Just not where they want one.
@ bosco- I live downtown and walk ALL over down town and the harbor district. Please tell me/us where the screaming people are, where is the urinating crazy guy? Where are the piles of trash on the side walk? I DO agree with the need of a permanent solution. You point out they are mentally ill. We have no good health care system for them. The state hospitals closed down and pushed them out. But still, i really want to know where all of this mayhem is that you report. I have to little girls and a 13 y/o son. 4 of us are walkers and are always out and about. We have never, and I mean never seen this downtown. We are downtown walking around and exploring daily, nightly, weekends,etc. We also walk and bike all over the beaches and harbor district. I see over entitled dog owners as more of a problem than a handful of homeless people. Why? Those animals use state street plants as their toilet. I have never seen some homeless dude peeing in broad daylight. I’m 49 and have been a local since 1982, downtown.