Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
• Agency Response
Response to:
Homeless Encampments in Santa Barbara County
Homeless Encampments in Santa Barbara County: Becoming Part of the Community Again*
⚠️ 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 2 findings
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 2: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The County and the cities shall ensure that all sweeps occur utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach. 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 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 address encampment clean-ups.
F3
Encampments lack basic sanitation services. Response 3: Agree.
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. 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, and illegally dumping waste, the expectation is that they enter a structured program, such as a homeless shelter, where they can access comprehensive services, including restrooms, showers, and other necessary amenities. These facilities are designed to provide a stable and sanitary environment that encampments cannot offer. In situations where local shelters are at full capacity, Lompoc will collaborate with faith- based organizations and community service providers to assess and address the need for additional resources within the city. This collaborative effort ensures that individuals have access to essential services without compromising public health and safety standards. Lompoc will continue to provide necessary services during encampment sweeps and work with community partners to address any overflow needs. August 23, 2024 Grand Jury Report - Homeless Encampments in Santa Barbara County This concludes Lompoc's responses to the individual applicable findings and recommendations in accordance with California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05. Sincerely, Jamelle Alborne Jenelle Osborne, Mayor City of Lompoc Santa Barbara County Grand Jury CC: Santa Barbara County Courthouse PO Box 21107 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 sbcgi@sbcourts.org CC: Honorable Mayor Pro Tem and City Council Members Dean Albro, City Manager × .
* 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.