Category Archives: Common Ground SB

City Approves Mega Homeless Agency

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By Emerson Malone

Last Tuesday, October 23rd, the City of Santa Barbara approved the merging of the three largest agencies that serve the homeless in Santa Barbara County. The vote was 5-2, with Grant House and Cathy Murillo opposing.

Bringing Our Community Home, Common Ground Santa Barbara and the South Coast Homeless Advisory Committee are now the The Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness or C3H. The merger was already approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, but the City of Santa Maria and Carpinteria have yet to vote on the collaborative.

The effort to bring these organizations together has been in the works for the better part of a year.

“I’m really hoping that we can coordinate a better countywide response to homelessness,” said lawyer Emily Allen, who sits on the H3C’s Coordinating Council, was a member of the South Coast Homeless Advisory Committee, and does pro bono legal advocacy homeless persons in Restorative Court. “We’re going to be working on this issue in a more effective way,” Allen said.

Before the vote, Councilmember Dale Francisco asked for a change to the collaborative’s vision statement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). After back and forth among Councilmembers, he got his wish; the  statement now include phrasing that states C3H will “[promote] a more efficient use of resources to reduce homelessness, and meet the needs of the most vulnerable and the needs of the community.” It’s that last phrase “and the needs of the community” that Francisco pressed for. Some homeless advocates say including this isn’t necessary because the vulnerable are already part of the community. Others say, Francisco is part of a contingent of residents and business owners who want the city to pay for either a security guard or more police patrol of lower Milpas area.

“There are people in the community, in particular some of the business owners, who are calling for the city to contrbute more resources to safety patrol,” said Councilmember Murillo. “It’s worthwhile to look at the budget, but I;m hoping that a level of security an comfort can be achieved through volunteer patrols.”

Both Murillo said she voted against the collaborative because she thought Francisco was choosing the wrong forum in which to address changes to the collaborative’s mission statement and MOU. She said, such a change should be taken up at the Policy Council level.

Francisco, along with Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, will represent the city on H3C’s Policy Council. Forth District Supervisor Doreen Farr and Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino will also sit on the Policy Council. Members are being appointed by seniority, according to reports.

The H3C’s large Coordinating Council is already holding monthly meetings, which are closed. Its membership consists of city and county department heads, as well as advocates from nonprofit advocacy boards and volunteers. Jeff Shaffer, of Common Ground Santa Barbara and the Ufizzi Mission Project, and Angela Antenori, will share the so-called “air-traffic controller,” position, acting serving as the liaisons between the Policy Council and Coordinating Council. Northern Santa Barbara County United Way is the fiduciary agent for the new collaborative. Each jurisdiction is expected to pitch in to help support the effort; already, $250,000 has been raised, $75,000 of which came from the City of Santa Barbara’s coffers.

 

 

 

Rick and Gibby

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Gibby came into Rick’s life over a cup of coffee. How many significant people might be in our lives if they came in through something as simple as a beverage and never left? “Be careful who you hand coffee to,” Rick says, chuckling.

Rick describes his former self as a “hope-to-die drunk.” However, in seasons of sobriety, he helped others to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Rick ran a halfway house in Tucson, helping men get their lives back together. “I helped guys do their part,” he says. “But all of a sudden I was the one needing help.” Rick’s son David visited his father in Santa Barbara and asked, “Why don’t you become the man you used to be?”

When Rick heard that question, he really heard it. He let it resonate. And then, he decided to change. Rick went through detox, and then insisted on going to a local shelter, Casa Esperanza, immediately after. People advised him against it, told him that no one “makes it” if they go to Casa right after detox. To this he replied, “You don’t know my God.”

Casa Esperanza has been a place of refuge for many. No place is perfect, but hope can come even through imperfection. Rick first met Gibby at Casa. It was September 2010. People called him “Stinky.” When Rick heard himself chuckle at that nickname, he was disgusted. Both Rick and Gibby were recovering from drug and alcohol addictions, and each had lived on the streets for almost a decade. Ken Williams had coffee with Gibby every morning, and one morning Rick decided to join them. After that, Rick says, “Gibby was right in front of me. And you can’t say no to God.”

What began as a morning rhythm led Rick to help Gibby with his daily meals and showers. As the end of winter shelter at Casa Esperanza quickly approached, Rick asked what would happen to his friend after April 1st.  Gibby suffers from short-term memory loss. He often begins walking, keeps going, and loses his sense of direction completely. Rick was quick to address the real issue: Gibby would be extremely vulnerable on the streets and would struggle to survive, as many others do every single day. Ken Williams was one of the people at Casa who gave time and effort to helping Gibby – he and Rick began figuring out options for Gibby, and Rick has never forgotten Ken’s help.

The Vulnerability Index through Common Ground had taken place a few months prior, listing Gibby as #69 on the county’s survey of one hundred most vulnerable people. Through a well-timed and surprising turn of events, Gibby received a housing voucher and Rick became his legal caretaker. Jeff Shaffer suggested the Village Apartments on the Westside of Santa Barbara, owned by the Turner Foundation. Jeff began setting up meetings and advocating for Rick and Gibby to move in. After many meetings with Housing Authority, Jeff, and others, Rick and Gibby moved into an apartment at the Village.

Since living at the Village, Rick has taken on the role of full-time caretaker, quickly correcting anyone who may pity him for his job. “Gibby teaches me so much about joy and thankfulness,” he says. “He gives thanks for the little things, when I forget to give thanks for the big things.” Rick has continued to grow into someone that he’s proud of. He helps to empower others at Pershing Park, shares his story boldly, and continues to care for Gibby, which he views as his calling. He has a deep relationship with pastor Hans Kistner of First Baptist, who has stayed by his side for Rick’s entire journey. Not only has the opportunity for housing likely saved Gibby’s life, it has reunited Rick’s family. He and his wife Kim have reconciled. She now lives in the apartment with Rick and Gibby, assisting her husband with Gibby’s caretaking. Rick’s son has also come back into his life, which Rick describes as one of his greatest joys.

Rick’s and Gibby’s friendship gives perspective on how deeply we as human beings need community and relationship. Rick’s loyalty testifies to perseverance and possibility. The story of these two men can resonate with those who are housed, un-housed, nomadic – anybody. As the tune so sweetly goes, we do get by with a little help from our friends.

 

By: Kyli Sessions