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Transition House By Shonna Berk one thing she would change about the world, she expresses her anger towards individuals who are prejudiced against those experiencing poverty: “It is a huge misconception that drives many of the choices government and private citizens make. Instead of using their energy to find solutions to the problem, they use it to deny people basic rights, including respect.” Her one wish is to change this way of thinking. What Kathleen Boushke does greatly benefits society. The selfless work she puts into helping those in need is something to be admired. She makes a difference in many individual’s lives without expecting praise or reward.
As many are aware, the number of homeless people in Santa Barbara is astonishing. According to the Santa Barbara View, “There are 1,040 homeless people living in the City of Santa Barbara.” In the year 1984, a group of twelve faith communities came together, calling themselves the Interfaith Task Force. They took it upon themselves to form Transition House, an organization which provides homeless individuals and families the opportunity to become independent, gain self esteem, family stability, and a greater chance towards a successful future for the youth. Kathleen Baushke, the executive director of Transition House, has always felt it was her personal obligation to contribute to society, with the homeless capturing her interest ever since college. She feels that every person has a basic right to shelter. Baushke expresses how privileged she feels to have the opportunity to work for a social service organization such as Transition House. She states that her colleagues are caring people, who do what they do for better reasons than simply to receive a paycheck. Many individuals in society make assumptions about the homeless, believing that they are abusing drugs or that they “choose” this lifestyle. This might be true for some, but for others, this is a life far from choice. When asking Baushke what
Transition House depends on the generosity of people like you to help local homeless Santa Barbara families get back on their feet. 70% of Transition House’s operating resources come from the kindness and concern of the Santa Barbara community. Make a donation at: http://transitionhouse.com
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