Message from the MA Dignity Moves Presents at the Montecito Association
agency we work with. We referred one of our Hands Across Montecito clients to Dignity Moves downtown. It’s been open for almost a year now, and Jack gave a pretty impressive update. Of the 34 individuals that had moved into Dignity Moves: Eight found jobs Nine transitioned to stable housing 29 connected to health care, and 28 connected to mental health services All residents work with an Intensive Case Manager to create an exit plan for their new home.
Last year, Dignity Moves installed 34 tiny homes on a county courthouse lot (Courtesy photo)
by Sharon Byrne
A
Jack Lorenz of Dignity Moves (Courtesy photo)
This is really good progress, as the folks accepted into Dignity Moves tend to be the toughest cases; those who’ve experienced chronic homelessness. The site does not allow drinking or drug use, visitors, weapons, or violent behavior. Pets and partners are welcome, and possessions are housed safely in one’s unit. Jack said that often what people do when they first arrive is sleep. When you are living unsheltered, you are very at-risk of being attacked, having your things stolen or removed, or encountering enforcement. So you just really don’t sleep. Lack of sleep can cause poor decision-making, obviously, and also substance use. Dignity Moves functions as interim supportive housing. It’s not meant to be permanent, but a place to get stable and on your feet, so you can transition to permanent housing. It’s truly a dignified approach. Clients have privacy and safety, something homeless shelters cannot deliver. Dignity Moves is also providing the missing ingredient we’ve long been looking for: the number of beds needed. On any given night in Santa Barbara County, 563 shelter beds are needed for people experiencing homelessness. We currently have 140. There are 123 in the pipeline, leaving a shortfall of 300. If we close that gap, it becomes possible to enforce illegal camping.
t our board meeting on May 9th, we had two surprises: We did our first hybrid meeting at the Montecito Fire Station on San Ysidro Rd., and we sure appreciate their hosting us. We welcomed Jack Lorenz from Dignity Moves as our guest speaker, and he wowed the crowd in person and online. The Hands Across Montecito outreach team already knew Dignity Moves. Kath Washburn, one of our founding members, had adopted one of the Dignity Moves units in downtown Santa Barbara, outfitting it with welcoming items for the new residents, who would be individuals experiencing homelessness in the downtown area. Kath arranged a tour for us, and we were solidly impressed – 34 tiny homes had been constructed on a county courthouse lot using private donations. Services to help people leave homelessness would be on site, provided by Good Samaritan, another
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thank you to these businesses whose donations helped make crane country day school's 2023 annual spring benefit such a success! Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners Acme Hospitality A-Frame Surf Alamati Wines Andersen’s Danish Bakery & Restaurant Aveda Beach House Santa Barbara Bikini Factory BMW of Santa Barbara Bryant & Sons Ca’ Dario Montecito California Wine Festival Calirosa Tequila Channel Islands Expeditions Chaucer’s Bookstore Chocolats Du Calibressan Clare Swan Montecito Clare V. Montecito Coast & Olive Condor Express CorePower Yoga D.D. Ford Construction Dining With Di Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Club
DÔEN Evolutions-Medical and Day Spa Flow Yoga & Wellness Frank Schipper Construction Co. Hal Price Artist Horse, Heart & Connection Hudson Grace Ice In Paradise Island Packers J. McLaughlin Joe’s Cafe K Frank Kanaloa Seafood Kitchenette La Purisima Golf Course Lemondrop Montecito Linda Baffa Yoga
Little Dom’s Seafood Lobero Theatre Foundation Local - Montecito Lonson Family Farm Lure Fish House M. Special Brewing Company Maison K Margarita Adventures Melville Winery MITTSU Montecito Bank & Trust Montecito Fitness Montecito Inn Montecito Plastic Surgery Montecito Village Grocery Occhiali Fine Eyewear
Olio e Limone Ristorante Or Kahlon Pilates Pacific Park - Santa Monica Pier Palma Colectiva Pane e Vino Trattoria Paper Moon Photography Porch Randy Solakian Estates Group Rooted Vine Tours Rosewood Miramar Beach Rusty’s Pizza Parlor Salt-Caves Santa Barbara Sanders & Sons Gelato Santa Barbara Fishouse Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Santa Barbara Sailing Center
Santa Barbara Trapeze Co. Santa Barbara Venture Partners Santa Barbara Water Polo Camps SB Biergarten Skin Essentials Skin Prophecy / Skin Care Institute Skydive Santa Barbara Sony Pictures Studio Sotheby’s - Realtor, Jason Siemens Sterling Huddleson Architecture The Bunker Golf The Flying Royals The Granada Theatre The Grazing Place The Tennis Shop of Montecito The Ultimate Escape Rooms Third Window Brewing Co. Toy Crazy - Montecito Trader Joe’s Santa Barbara Truong & Co. Custom Design Jewelry U.C.S.B Summer Day Camp Program Via Vai Trattoria and Pizzeria Yellow Belly Yoga Soup
Every effort has been made for accuracy; please excuse any omissions.
14 Montecito JOURNAL
18 – 25 May 2023