Man Dies of Apparent Natural Causes at Casa Esperanza

so all of this begs the question--- how many people WITH homes have died in Santa Barbara this year. Would that be the statistically relevant control group?

Alot of people with homes have died this year thus far..I would like to know how many people have committed suicide in S.B. so far this year and don't say 2 or 3 there has been more than that...Many have lost their employment, their homes and their lives.....Being without a home is unacceptable to some..People can learrn alot from the homeless about surviving the recession.

Byrd you are right, just anecdotally I've heard of several suicides in Santa Barbara this year. Perhaps the Coroner can release those numbers.

They don't do that not the truth anyway..I remember one year there were all these drug overdoses back in the 80's early 90's I don't think they called those deaths murder/suicide I think since everyone involved was either an addict or an alcoholic they labelled these deaths as "Natural causes" also...There might be a different group working at the coroners office since they were honest about Ross, it's too bad his personal effects were not sent to his next of kin..I'm not sure if he had any personal effects though...I do believe that people who live in places like Casa Esprenza, Newhouse, Casa Serna, These people are considered homeless even though they have a roof over their heads because all these places are temporary...So that fella was the 16th homeless death reported..

Uhh, what does "beg(ging) the question" have to do with this death? Presumably the death actually occurred, by the report, and so the story is true.
"'Begging the question' is a form of logical fallacy in which a statement or claim is assumed to be true without evidence other than the statement or claim itself. When one begs the question, the initial assumption of a statement is treated as already proven without any logic to show why the statement is true in the first place." (quote from begthequestion.info)

Thank you....Thank you very much for tying my brain into knots..If i'm outta line by rambling on I'm sorry.

To clarify the facts. My brother was one of the 16. I was notified by SBPD, at my home, within two hours of it occurring. I was given all information available by C.E. staff and his personal effects given to me. The Coroner's office particularly, Det. Finsky, was extraordinarily kind,taking time from his family to make sure I was informed and he listened to everything I had to say, making me feel heard and respected. I was given all of the facts available and explained the final cause of death, accidental, even though prescribed drugs were a large factor, as well as his overall health.
I could not ask for anything to have been handled any better or differently by C.E., SBPD,the coroners office or the mortuary.
Death unexpectedly, anywhere is tragic and unfortunate but I do not believe that it because anyone did not care or was looked at "less than". Our health, mental and physical are generally the primary factors in unexpected death and we are lucky to be a city where there is help available to those that want it. Jennifer G

I think it noteworthy that the number of deaths since last year in our homeless population has now just about doubled. The fact that this Veteran with underlying health problems died homeless while in a Recovery Program grab anyone? Where was the VA?

Will another one just suffered a stroke at Casa today just heard the ambulance going code 3 about 15 minutes ago...As far as personal effects I was talking about Ross..

HaleLorraine -- you asked where was the VA? Not here -- I heard the nearest VA clinic is now in Santa Maria. As the wife of a Veteran (laid off since last July) I can tell you from experience that when the medical clinic was here it was extremely busy (2000 - 2002 time frame) and lots of the patients were elderly; how they get to appointments now must be terrible. Job services for Veterans are a joke. Maybe they are better in some other counties or states but I doubt it.
While people talk about honoring our Veterans, they complain about having to pay taxes that provide needed services. They insist on lower taxes which causes lack of services and lack of oversight of those services that remain -- then wonder why there are consequences.

I would like to know how many people have committed suicide in S.B. so far this year and don't say 2 or 3 there has been more than that.

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Santa Barbara County averages about 40 suicides a year. I'm not sure how many of those are in the City.