A plan to merge five separate committees and nongovernmental agencies devoted to tackling Santa Barbara County’s homeless problem took a step forward Thursday, August 4, when the City of Santa Barbara’s Subcommittee on Homelessness and Community Relations agreed to recommend to the full council that the city participate in the formation of the organization, and perhaps even set aside some Human Services funding to help pay for its full-time coordinator.
That was the biggest news coming out of this month’s Subcommittee on Homelessness meeting, though other actions were taken, including the decision to table—at least for now—further discussion of expanding free lunch sites in the city; places where daily meals could be served to homeless and impoverished persons. The impetus for that idea began in September 2010, when Milpas Street business owners and residents began protesting the number of homeless folks in their neighborhood, pointing in particular to Casa Esperanza’s free lunches, which they believe serve as a veritable homeless magnet. To read more, go to homelessinsb.org