Will Common Ground, the nonprofit famous for sweeping surprising numbers of chronically homeless persons into housing in efficient bursts of community activism, be working its magic in Santa Barbara?
That’s the question South County homeless advocates and service providers have been asking each other since Friday, when Becky Kanis, director of Common Ground’s 100,000 Homes campaign, visited Santa Barbara. While she was here, she met with a contingent of government officials as well as Mike Foley, co-director of the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, and Rob Pearson, director of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB). What exactly was said in the meeting is unknown at this point. However, as the city compiles its list of the 50 most vulnerable homeless people, as required in its legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), it also must consider how to offer these 50 housing, because that is part of the settlement too. If enough community-based homeless organizations put their enthusiasm behind bringing “100,000 Homes” to Santa Barbara, it’s possible that the campaign will be a part of the city’s process of getting these 50 people into homes. To read more, see homelessinsb.org.