About the woman forced to sleep in her car in Santa Barbara

[Mountainman]

Yesterday there was a post about a woman forced to sleep in her car due to homelessness. There were some replies were there was no sympathy for this person.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=printer_friendly&forum=389&topic_id=3313351



I work for Santa Barbara County and we care about the homeless and here is a report on what we are doing if you are interested. The south part of Santa Barbara County, where Santa Barbara city is located is very Democratic due to UC Santa Barbara being located here and the fact that no one here wants to develop out beautiful coast line except rich repukes. We are largely pro environment and open space.


http://www.countyofsb.org/index.asp
Click on the link "Coming Home"


New Spring 2008 issue of "Coming Home" is now available. Learn more about the complex social issues of homelessness. Coming Home is produced by the Santa Barbara County Homeless Coordinator and staff from the Department of Social Services.

[The Blue Flower]

1. Thank you

Thanks for posting this, but I can't get the link to work. I'm part of a group in Seattle that is working on starting a similar program that will allow people living in campers, trucks, vans, and cars to park safely overnight in church parking lots. I'd appreciate any and all information you have on getting this program organized and operating. We're going to use your program as an example for the media and local officials. Great work.

[Mountainman]

8. I think I fixed the link

contact New Beginnings Counseling Center
http://www.newbeginningscounselingcenter.org/aboutus.html

[catgirl]

2. The link isn't working for me

I'll bookmark and try again later.

[Mountainman]

5. try this

http://www.countyofsb.org/index.asp

I replace the link

[catgirl]

10. Thanks

I hope the community will come together and help with things like meals
and clothing... Perhaps a call for people with spare bedrooms to help
give people shelter is in store.

[AutumnMist]

3. I moved to Santa Barbara shortly after I graduated

high school. At the time we shared a small, very cramped two bedroom and one bathroom bungalow for almost 1200 a month. That was a bargain unless you went into Lompoc and tried to find something off the beaten path circa 1989. It was off of state street and I had three roommates. I really do sympathize with this woman. I transferred colleges because I couldn't make it there financially. There is no middle class in Santa Barbara left. You either live in Montecito or you suffer trying to make it work. The city itself needs to provide housing that people can afford. Even single wide mobile homes on nothing for a lot sell for insane amounts and the city looks the other way. As does our state of California.

Wanting to just choose to live in a city is not greed. Choosing to live in a 7.5 million dollar home while others live in a car is.

[Mountainman]

6. The city of Santa Barbara has a low income housing program

http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Resident/Home/Housing/preservation.htm


Why the concern about Affordable Housing in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara residents enjoy a beautiful environment bordered by mountains and seashore, with clean air, a temperate climate, and charming ambiance. But this beautiful City exacts a high price from those who live here. Housing costs are among the highest in the nation, and vacancy rates are among the lowest.

The high housing costs result in problems for many residents. The gap between incomes and housing costs is great. Many people commute long distances from less expensive housing in outlying areas. Much of the housing is seriously overcrowded, as families double and triple up in order to stay in the City. Children who grow up here are often forced to leave the area in search of housing they can afford. The low vacancy rate contributes to substandard housing, as unscrupulous landlords get nearly the same rent for units they allow to deteriorate as for well-maintained units.

Responsible property owners face stiff challenges. Many local homeowners are elderly, living on fixed incomes and residing in homes that need extensive repairs. Landlords renting to low- and moderate-income people at affordable rents do not have operating budgets or reserves that can cover rehabilitation expenses.

The City has done well in creating a level of affordable housing that constitutes 12% of the City's housing stock. The City is in the process of analyzing several strategies to provide even more affordable housing opportunities.

[AZ Criminal JD]

7. So if we can't have 7.5 million dollar homes, what is the limit?

[AutumnMist]

9. I am not sure

that was the whole point. What is the point of the cost for living and how can we make it better? :)


Edit: Available/More Accessible?

[Warpy]

4. I was very sympathetic

because I've been there and done that, although it was a very long time ago.

I did wonder why her other two grown children aren't helping her get back on her feet.

I also know this problem of formerly middle class women falling into homelessness due to divorce, illness, unemployment, or child support that never comes has been going on for a couple of decades. It's not a new problem and it won't go away all by itself.

She's just learning the same hard lesson I had to learn, although I was fortunate enough to learn it when I was younger: the roof comes first. Anything left over can be squandered on frivolous things like food.

[malta blue]

11. thank you.

I found some of the responses in that thread shocking.

[Raster]

12. I found some of the responses in that thread downright fucking cruel.

There but for the grace of God...

As the economy continues to further sour, we are only going to see more and more stories like this. Poverty, contrary to what the cruel "haves" will tell you, is NOT someone's fault. No one has the right to pass judgment.