Santa Barbara County Grand Jury • 2020-2021 • Agency Response
Response to: HOMELESSNESS IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: Our Everyday Epidemic

GCC

Published: August 17, 2020 31 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 11 findings

F1 Page 3
There is a need for greater transparency, understanding and accountability of homeless related expenditures and the results.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1a
Page 27
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors direct the Santa Barbara County Community Services Department to publish an annual report of homeless related expenditures and outcomes, Recommendation ib That the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria publish an annual report of their homeless related expenditures and outcomes.
F2 Page 27
Permanent Supportive Housing for the most vulnerable homeless is lacking.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 27
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria develop plans and devise mechanisms for providing ways to build permanent supportive housing for our most vulnerable homeless populations.
F3 Page 4
State and federal funding that is granted to Santa Barbara County does not sufficiently support the mandate for housing the homeless.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 27
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria identify funding mechanisms, including, but not limited to, bond issues, dedicated taxing, a designated budgetary line item and strong philanthropic parmerships, for housing the homeless.
F4 Page 5
Elected City and County leaders have not exhibited aggressive leadership in determining the availability of sites in their jurisdictions for housing the homeless.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 27
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, and City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria designate and facilitate building of housing for the homeless on sites within their jurisdictions.
F5 Page 6
A greater effort is needed to inform and include the public regarding the needs of the homeless for housing and services and how it can appropriately fit into neighborhoods.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 28
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, and City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria be more proactive in informing the public of the needs of the homeless for housing and services and how it can appropriately fit into neighborhoods by holding forums and conducting tours of existing facilities to educate the residents whose neighborhoods are proposed for the development of projects for the homeless.
F6 Page 28
There are no elected leaders serving as voting members of the Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care Board.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Page 28
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors direct the Community Services Department to work with the Continuum of Care Board to develop a procedure for including elected leaders as voting members of the Continuum of Care Board.
F7 Page 28
A conflict of interest exists within the membership of the Continuum of Care Board as the member organizations who seek funding for their projects are permitted to vote and grant funding for their own projects.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Page 28
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors direct the Community Services Department and the Santa Barbara County Counsel to work with the Continuum of Care Board to change the procedures for the voting process on the Continuum of Care Board to eliminate the perceived conflict of interest.
F8 Page 28
All overnight emergency shelters are at capacity year-round, there are not enough day centers, and there are currently no Navigation Centers in Santa Barbara County.
Related Recommendations (3)
R8a
Page 28
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria work together to create overnight emergency shelters commensurate with their homeless populations.
R8b
Page 28
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria work together to create day centers commensurate with their homeless populations.
R8c
Page 28
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria fund and expedite the development and opening of more shelters incorporating the Navigation Center concept. 2019-20 Senta CountyGrandJury == st—=—<—~*s=‘s~s*™S~S~SSSé age dT DocuSign Envelope ID: 76EF6227-D975-476C-9BF6-9378E58815DC
F9 Page 8
Currently, several California cities are providing temporary homeless. facilities by utilizing alternative cost-effective forms of housing such as high-performance tension fabric structures, tiny houses, and modular housing.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Page 29
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria undertake feasibility studies and develop plans for using alternate types of cost-effective forms of housing.
F10 Page 8
Administration Department: Tel (805) 356.3891 Fax (805) 343.5512 918 Obispo Street P.O. Box 908, Guadalupe CA 93434 Currently, in some California cities, large health care insurers are utilizing their tax credits to fund housing facilities for the chronically homeless.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
Page 29
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria contact major health care insurers in their jurisdictions and encourage them to seek partnerships to support the construction of housing for the chronically homeless of Santa Barbara County.
F11 Page 29
Housing First’s wraparound services concept necessitates an increased staff-to-client ratio.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Page 29
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors provide the Behavioral Wellness Department with additional continuous funding to ensure the needed staff-to-client ratios in the County supportive housing facilities,