Score: +14
(21/15/7)
Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
Homeless Encampments in Santa Barbara County Becoming Part of the Community Again*
Published: June 25, 2024
31 pages
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
Use of a team approach has made engagement with community services more acceptable to those who live in encampments.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
F4
Encampment residents are reluctant to transition to housing with strict rules of conduct.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The County shall encourage the creation of more units that continue the Housing First model, providing a home first, and offering supportive services as the individual learns to cope in socially accepted ways.
F5
State funding for helping people without housing is becoming less available.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Board of Supervisors shall instruct the County Community Services Department to work with community partners in addition to Continuum of Care members to pursue funding opportunities beyond those coming from the State or the encampment resolution.
F6
Most state encampment funding cannot be applied to environmental restoration.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Board of Supervisors shall instruct the Community Services Department to invite environmental non-profits into its multi-disciplinary teams.
F7
When heavy rain is forecast and materializes, the persons in encampments along creeks and riverbeds are at high risk for loss of life, personal property, and living quarters.
Related Recommendations (2)
R7a
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management, using mapping technology, shall continue to refine and share comprehensive locations of encampment sites among all concerned agencies.
R7b
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management shall develop and formalize a multi-modal warning system to relocate persons when there are looming credible threats.
Conclusions 13
-
CL1Use of a team approach has made engagement with community services more acceptable to those who live in encampments.
-
CL2The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
-
CL3Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
-
CL4Encampment residents are reluctant to transition to housing with strict rules of conduct. <b>Recommendation 4</b> The County shall encourage the creation of more units that continue the Housing First model, providing a home first, and offering supportive services as the individual learns to cope in socially accepted ways.
-
CL5State funding for helping people without housing is becoming less available.
-
CL6Most state encampment funding cannot be applied to environmental restoration.
-
CL7When heavy rain is forecast and materializes, the persons in encampments along creeks and riverbeds are at high risk for loss of life, personal property, and living quarters.
-
CL8Agree · Disagree wholly
-
CL9Disagree partially with an explanation Responses to Recommendations shall be one of the following:
-
CL10Has been implemented, with brief summary of implementation actions taken
-
CL11Will be implemented, with an implementation schedule
-
CL12Requires further analysis, with analysis completion date of no more than six months after the issuance of the report
-
CL13Will not be implemented, with an explanation of why Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors - 90 days Findings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Commendations 1
-
CM1Stereotyping individuals without housing by labeling them as "the homeless" or "the mentally ill" can lead to misconceptions about unhoused persons as somehow different. The Grand Jury commends our community leaders, service agencies, and news media for using appropriate language when referring to our unhoused citizens. This fosters greater compassion and empathy, empowering society to better address the needs of those without housing.
Agency Responses 12
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
▶
2023-2024 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY GRAND JURY RESPONSE
April 30, 2024
•
7 pages
View Details ▾
No structured response data extracted yet.
View the PDF for full details.
▶
Board of Supervisors
September 10, 2024
•
6 pages
• 14 responses
•
Score: +6
(+7, 6, -1)
View Details ▾
14 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
Use of a team approach has made engagement with community services more acceptable to those who live in encampments.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Use of a team approach has made engagement with community services more acceptable to those who live in encampments. The Board of Supervisors agrees. The County uses a team approach in its homeless outreach programs.
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up. The Board of Supervisors agrees. The County uses the Encampment Response Protocol to address encampments, providing a variety of community resources before, during and after encampment resolution activities, as detailed in response to Recommendation 2 below.
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
below.
Recommendation 2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach. This recommendation has been implemented in unincorporated areas of the County's approved Encampment Resolution Strategy and Response Protocol created an Encampment Response Team comprised of staff from Community Services, Public Health (Environmental Health Services), Fire, Sheriff, and homeless outreach service providers. The field team assesses encampments reported for health and safety risks, provides education on hazards, linkages to shelter and services. Other d...
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Encampments lack basic sanitation services. The Board of Supervisors agrees. Unsafe conditions for persons remaining unsheltered include risk of fire, impacts on public recreation areas and the environment, safety of the greater community and visitors, and concern for the health and safety of those experiencing homelessness.
These concerns have been identified through calls for law enforcement service, the need for sanitation services, and removal of biohazards. Community member concerns about encampments within their neighborhoods, including those related to health, sanitation, and safety, s...
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites. This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. Trash cans and restrooms including resources for handwashing are currently available to the broad public, including persons in encampments. Additionally, waste is removed from active encampments to reduce the footprint of the site and mitigate public health and environmental concerns. Sharps containers for safe disposal of n...
F4
Encampment residents are reluctant to transition to housing with strict rules of conduct.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Encampment residents are reluctant to transition to housing with strict rules of conduct. The Board of Supervisors agrees. All housing projects supported by Santa Barbara County embody the policy of Housing First in order to receive State homeless program funds, as set forth in Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) §§ 8256. WIC § 8255 defines Housing First policies to not predicate housing on an individual's willingness to take medication, be sober, or participate in treatment.
R4
The County shall encourage the creation of more units that continue the Housing First model, providing a home first, and offering supportive services as the individual learns to cope in socially accepted ways.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The County shall encourage the creation of more units that continue the Housing First model, providing a home first, and offering supportive services as the individual learns to cope in socially accepted ways. This recommendation has been implemented. All County County Continuum of Care (COC) funded efforts are required to provide a meaningful path to safe and stable housing, using nonpunitive, low-barrier, person-centered, Housing First approaches. In order to receive State homeless program funds, all County and COC funded efforts contractually obligate service providers to operate in a manne...
F5
State funding for helping people without housing is becoming less available.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
State funding for helping people without housing is becoming less available.
The Board of Supervisors agrees. The projected State budget indicates that funding for a variety of homeless support programs will become less available. The last five years marked an unprecedented investment to address homelessness with State and federal COVID-19 pandemic stimulus funding. However, nearly all of that State investment in homeless services and housing was one-time, meaning that there was no long-term fiscal sustainability of the services or programs funded during that time.
R5
The Board of Supervisors shall instruct the County Community Services Department to work with community partners in addition to Continuum of Care members to pursue funding opportunities beyond those coming from the State or the encampment resolution.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Board of Supervisors shall instruct the County Community Services Department to work with community partners in addition to Continuum of Care members to pursue funding opportunities beyond those coming from the State or the encampment resolution. This recommendation has been implemented. The Community Action Plan, adopted by the Board of Supervisors in February 2021, included a directive: "Increase the Pool of Funding Available to Provide Housing and Services" which included the following key actions: Maintain a comprehensive list of funds dedicated to homelessness; Coordinate and align al...
F6
Most state encampment funding cannot be applied to environmental restoration.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Most state encampment funding cannot be applied to environmental restoration. The Board of Supervisors agrees. This finding is best exemplified through the California Encampment Resolution Fund (CERF), one of the many one-time (not ongoing) funding programs the State has created in recent years. CERF provides funding to resolve encampments along rivers and transit corridors, however, it explicitly excludes debris removal once the encampment is cleared from the eligible funding uses. There is no State dedicated homeless funding source that can fund environmental restoration of closed encampment...
R6
The Board of Supervisors shall instruct the Community Services Department to invite environmental non-profits into its multi-disciplinary teams.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Board of Supervisors shall instruct the Community Services Department to invite environmental non-profits into its multi-disciplinary teams. This recommendation has been implemented. Environmental agencies (public, private, and nonprofit) have been engaged in efforts to restore encampment sites, and in pursuit of funding.
F7
When heavy rain is forecast and materializes, the persons in encampments along creeks and riverbeds are at high risk for loss of life, personal property, and living quarters.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
When heavy rain is forecast and materializes, the persons in encampments along creeks and riverbeds are at high risk for loss of life, personal property, and living quarters. The Board of Supervisors agrees. The Board's responses to Recommendations 7a and 7b below detail how efforts are taken during heavy rain events to mitigate risks to persons residing in homeless encampments.
Recommendation 7a
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management, using mapping technology, shall continue to refine and share comprehensive locations of encampment sites among all c...
R7a
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management, using mapping technology, shall continue to refine and share comprehensive locations of encampment sites among all concerned agencies.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management, using mapping technology, shall continue to refine and share comprehensive locations of encampment sites among all concerned agencies. This recommendation has been implemented. Community Services Department already has implemented and maintains GIS mapping technology and shares the comprehensive locations of encampment sites with the Sheriff's Office, Office of Emergency Management, and all other concerned agencies. This is critical for situational awareness and data driven decision-making when these areas could ...
R7b
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management shall develop and formalize a multi-modal warning system to relocate persons when there are looming credible threats.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management shall develop and formalize a multi-modal warning system to relocate persons when there are looming credible threats. This recommendation has been implemented. In early 2023, the Encampment Response Coordinator, in partnership with the Office of Emergency Management and other agencies, developed an "Extreme Weather Response Protocol" which has been implemented during several heavy rain events. Prior to severe storm events, the Sheriff's Office works with the Office of Emergency Management and Community Services Di...
▶
BOS
March 07, 2024
•
10 pages
View Details ▾
No structured response data extracted yet.
View the PDF for full details.
▶
Buellton Community College
August 19, 2024
•
3 pages
• 4 responses
•
Score: +2
(+3, 0, -1)
View Details ▾
4 responses to findings and recommendations
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
AGREE
Recommendation 2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
Response: Will Implement
Score: +1
WILL BE IMPLEMENTED - The City is agrees that a multi-disciplinary approach is necessary to address the issues associated with engaging unhoused persons and attempting clean-up operations, to minimize trauma to the unhoused persons, to protect their rights, and to ensure their long-term health and well-being. While the City has no encampments in need of clean-up, any future cleanup operation of encampments will be conducted in consultation with law enforcement, Public Health, Behavioral Wellness, and other County and non-profit social service agencies.
Finding 3
Encampments lack basic sanita...
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
AGREE
Recommendation 3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED - The City of Buellton currently has no encampments within the City Limits. The determination as to whether or not to provide the facilities identified in Recommendation 3 will be made by the City as part of its response to the establishment of an encampment (should that occur), and will be made in light of the suitability of the site for such an encampment, the potential impact of the encampment on nearby residents and businesses, and the options available to the City for removal of such an encampment (especially in light of the recent Supreme Court decision in Grants ...
▶
Carpinteria Community College
November 25, 2024
•
3 pages
• 4 responses
•
Score: +1
(+2, 1, -1)
View Details ▾
4 responses to findings and recommendations
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree The City of Carpinteria utilizes a variety of community resources in responding to encampments, including outreach and navigation services coordinated with community partners and agencies. The City also refers individuals to its Safe Parking program as part of its partnership with New Beginnings, which supports individuals living in vehicles. Additionally, the City is exploring opportunities to expand this program to provide more spaces for individuals residing in vehicles.
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
Has been implemented The City of Carpinteria prioritizes connecting individuals residing in homeless encampments to existing resources through the Continuum of Care (CoC). When possible, the City coordinates 5775 CARPINTERIA AVENUE • CARPINTERIA, CA 93013-2603 (805) 684-5405 • FAX (805) 684-5304 www.CarpinteriaCA.gov
Carpinteria Community Center - Budget Funding Request Page 2 with service providers to ensure their presence before or during contact with an encampment, facilitating contact with individuals and connecting them to services. In instances where service providers are unavailable, C...
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree The City of Carpinteria acknowledges the threat to public safety posed by encampments lacking access to basic sanitation services. Consequently, the City allocates substantial funding for environmental cleanup efforts following the abandonment of encampments. City-contracted cleanup crews are regularly dispatched to encampments in open spaces and creek areas to address biohazardous materials, improperly discarded needles, trash, and debris.
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
Will not be implemented The City of Carpinteria recognizes the significant health risks posed to both encampment residents and the surrounding community by encampments. For encampment residents, unsheltered living exposes individuals to a multitude of real and potential hazards and unhealthy conditions. Notably, these include a high propensity for alcohol and illegal drug use, sex trafficking, and exposure to safety risks associated with the use of propane and other fuels. Additionally, the real and potential fire danger posed by encampments constitutes a significant risk to public health and ...
▶
Guadalupe City Council
June 21, 2024
•
35 pages
• 6 responses
•
Score: 0
(+2, 2, -2)
View Details ▾
6 responses to findings and recommendations
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
Will not be implemented. Through community interaction, citizens updates, and regular law enforcement patrols, no homeless encampments have been identified within the boundaries of the City of Guadalupe. With the lack of homeless encampments, the Guadalupe Department of Public Safety will not be conducting homeless encampments sweeps.
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
Response: Will Not Implement
Scheduled: within 60 days
Score: -1
Will not be implemented. Currently, the city of Guadalupe has no identified encampments. Through the City of Guadalupe's proactive response to address these issues, city staff will be directed to identify potential cost and locations of the above-named resources if / when homeless encampments are identified and assistance to unhoused individuals are needed. The study should be completed and submitted within 60 days after direction from City Council. Sincerely, Ariston Julian, Mayor Eugene Costa Jr., Mayor pro tem Christina Hernandez, Council member bert Robles, Council member Whitney Furness, ...
F7
When heavy rain is forecast and materializes, the persons in encampments along creeks and riverbeds are at high risk for loss of life, personal property, and living quarters.
Response: Disagree Partially
Score: 0
Agree · Disagree wholly • Disagree partially with an explanation Responses to Recommendations shall be one of the following: • Has been implemented, with brief summary of implementation actions taken • Will be implemented, with an implementation schedule • Requires further analysis, with analysis completion date of no more than six months after the issuance of the report • Will not be implemented, with an explanation of why Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors - 90 days Findings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Recommendations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7a, 7b City of Santa Barbara - 90 days Findings 2, 3 Recomme...
R7a
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management, using mapping technology, shall continue to refine and share comprehensive locations of encampment sites among all concerned agencies.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management, using mapping technology, shall continue to refine and share comprehensive locations of encampment sites among all concerned agencies. <b>Recommendation 7b</b>
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management shall develop and formalize a multi-modal warning system to relocate persons when there are looming credible threats. REQUEST FOR RESPONSE Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933 and 933.05, the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury requests each entity or individual named be...
▶
Guadalupe Community College
September 03, 2024
•
4 pages
• 4 responses
•
Score: +1
(+2, 1, -1)
View Details ▾
4 responses to findings and recommendations
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree The City of Goleta utilizes a variety of community resources in responding to encampments. The City of Goleta passed a Homelessness Strategic Plan in 2021 and has created a range of services from outreach and housing navigation to Safe Parking for people living in vehicles, to paying for bed reservations in interim housing programs, to directly helping to fund Permanent Supportive Housing.
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
Response: Implemented
Scheduled: FY 2021-2022
Score: 0
Agree: Has been implemented Since FY 2021-2022, the City of Goleta has funded and implemented an outreach and engagement program that combines street-level engagement, interim housing, behavioral health, and public health as the first response to encampments on public property. In general, when an encampment is identified, the outreach team enters the encampment into a cloud-based tracking system, Fulcrum, that is used countywide. This system is used by nonprofit outreach workers, government officials, including City of Goleta employees, and law enforcement. Once entered and engaged by outreac...
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree The City of Goleta recognizes the threat to public safety posed by encampments that lack any access to basic sanitation services. As a result, the City spends significant funding on environmental clean-up when an encampment has been determined to be abandoned. City-contracted clean-up crews are regularly dispatched to encampments in open spaces and creeks to address biohazards, improperly disposed-of needles, trash, and debris. CITY OF (GOLETA 130 Cremona Drive, Suite B, Goleta, CA 93117 P 805.961.7500 F 805.685.2635 www.cityofgoleta.org
Page 3
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, port-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites. City of Goleta Response: Disagree: Will not be implemented The City of Goleta treats encampments as hazardous to the health of both encampment residents and the surrounding community. For residents, the nature of living outside unsheltered exposes people to a host of real and potential hazards and unhealthy conditions. Not least of these includes the high propensity of alcohol and illegal drug use...
▶
Lompoc Community College
August 23, 2024
•
3 pages
• 4 responses
•
Score: +2
(+2, 2, 0)
View Details ▾
4 responses to findings and recommendations
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up. Response 2: Agree.
Recommendation 2:
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach. 100 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, LOMPOC, CA 93436 PHONE: 805-736-1261 FAX: 805-736-5347
August 23, 2024 Grand Jury Report - Homeless Encampments in Santa Barbara County Page 2 of 3 Response 2: Has been implemented. In 2018, Lompoc conducted an encampment sweep that addressed the entire Santa Ynez River. A "triage center" was es...
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach. 100 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, LOMPOC, CA 93436 PHONE: 805-736-1261 FAX: 805-736-5347
August 23, 2024 Grand Jury Report - Homeless Encampments in Santa Barbara County Page 2 of 3 Response 2: Has been implemented. In 2018, Lompoc conducted an encampment sweep that addressed the entire Santa Ynez River. A "triage center" was established and representation from all disciplines were present. Since 2018, encampment sweeps have been small and Lompoc staff coordinates with homeless outreach teams to addres...
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Encampments lack basic sanitation services. Response 3: Agree.
Recommendation 3:
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites. Response 3: Has been implemented. When Lompoc initiates an encampment "sweep," sanitation services, including trash removal and temporary sanitation facilities, are provided during the process. This approach helps address immediate health and safety concerns and facilitates a more orderly transition for those affec...
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites. Response 3: Has been implemented. When Lompoc initiates an encampment "sweep," sanitation services, including trash removal and temporary sanitation facilities, are provided during the process. This approach helps address immediate health and safety concerns and facilitates a more orderly transition for those affected. However, when individuals are residing in encampments, engaging in trespassing...
▶
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AGENCIES RESPOND TO 2023-24 GRAND JURY REPORTS
June 25, 2024
•
10 pages
View Details ▾
No structured response data extracted yet.
View the PDF for full details.
▶
Santa Barbara County Jail Industries Commission
August 20, 2024
•
4 pages
• 4 responses
•
Score: +1
(+2, 1, -1)
View Details ▾
4 responses to findings and recommendations
F2
The negative effects of encampment sweeps can be mitigated when a variety of community resources are present at the time of the clean-up.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree. The City of Santa Barbara does not facilitate "sweeps" of encampments. The City's Encampment Response Protocol carefully details our approach which includes a guiding principle that addressing encampments requires collaboration from community partners and agencies. Recommendation 2: The County and cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
Has been implemented. The City of Santa Barbara's Encampment Response Protocol includes the utilization of a multi-disciplinary approach when engaging individuals that are living in encampments. The City's Encampment Response Team is comprised of staff from Sustainability and Resilience, Community Development, Fire, Police, Parks and Recreation, City Administrator's Office, Airport Patrol, Harbor Patrol and Public Works. This team also works directly with homeless outreach providers as well as County and State departments and agencies, as needed. The response team initially assesses the encamp...
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree. Encampments create unsafe and unhealthy conditions for several reasons and chief among them is the lack of basic sanitation services. Encampment sites often contain the presence of human waste, needles or other unsafe, unsanitary and hazardous material. Recommendation 3: The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
R3
The County and the cities shall make trash cans, porta-potties, resources for handwashing, and sharps containers for safe disposal of needles and other hazardous waste available near encampment sites.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
Will not be implemented. The City's Encampment Response Protocol does not include sanctioned encampments because they have not improved conditions or resulted in solutions for people experiencing homelessness.
Creating what in essence would be a sanctioned camping site has shown very little impact on reducing homelessness in other cities and may exacerbate the health and safety issues due to the more permanent nature of the site. This includes risk of fire, impacts on public recreation areas and the environment, safety of the broader community, and concern for the health and safety of those e...
▶
Santa Barbara County Sheriff
July 31, 2024
•
3 pages
• 3 responses
•
Score: +1
(+1, 2, 0)
View Details ▾
3 responses to findings and recommendations
F7
When heavy rain is forecast and materializes, the persons in encampments along creeks and riverbeds are at high risk for loss of life, personal property, and living quarters.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
</b> Agree. The Sheriff's Office understands the dangers that our unpredictable weather can cause for our vulnerable populations, including those within homeless encampments. We work closely and meet regularly with the Santa Barbara County Community Services Department (CSD) who maintains and shares a comprehensive database of encampment locations throughout the county. This helps us, Santa Barbara County Departments, city agencies, and our emergency response partners, including the Office of Emergency Management and CSD, to identify encampments that could be affected before and during severe ...
R7a
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management, using mapping technology, shall continue to refine and share comprehensive locations of encampment sites among all concerned agencies.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
</b> Has been implemented, with a summary of the implementation actions taken. Santa Barbara County Community Service Department has already implemented and maintained geographic information system (GIS) mapping technology and shares the comprehensive locations of encampment sites with the Sheriff's Office and all other partner agencies. We utilize this data for situational awareness and data-driven decision-making when severe storm events could impact these areas. CSD has been using an Extreme Weather Response Protocol specific to persons experiencing homelessness since 2023.
R7b
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Management shall develop and formalize a multi-modal warning system to relocate persons when there are looming credible threats.
Response: Implemented
Score: 0
Has been implemented, with a summary of the implementation actions taken. In early 2023, the Santa Barbara County Community Service Department Encampment Response Coordinator, in partnership with the Office of Emergency Management and other agencies, developed an "Extreme Weather Response Protocol" specific to unhoused and homeless populations, which has been
implemented during several heavy rain events. Before severe storm events, the Sheriff's Office works with the Office of Emergency Management and CSD, and city agencies, in a multi-modal warning system to alert our vulnerable populations ...
▶
Solvang Community College
November 12, 2024
•
2 pages
View Details ▾
No structured response data extracted yet.
View the PDF for full details.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Carpinteria
City
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.