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Giving a hand to hope: A little girl at the 5th Annual Hands Across Santa Paula Celebrating the Spirit of Kindness “Echoes of Hope” compares her hand to those on a student’s artwork. |
‘Echoes of Hope’ for a kinder world
theme Hands Across Santa Paula
September 30, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Project Hope was presented to the City Council at thge September 21 meeting where they learned about the coalition striving to help the homeless.
Al Guilin and Audrey Vincent, also members of the Santa Paula Ministerial Association, did the presentation outlining the mission, goals and ideas the large diverse committee has been addressing.
“...it’s a wonderful cross-section of community leaders and organizations,” said Vice Mayor Martin Hernandez who also sits on the Project Hope committee.
Guilin noted that homelessness is not a new issue but “in the past those interested in the issue were fragmented,” and working independently.
With Project Hope there is now a “approach for this vexing issue...and we’re extremely grateful for those that have participated,” including Ventura County Sheriff Joe Preciado, an expert in homeless issues whose work Guilin said was used as a “template...”
Although many have addressed homelessness no one has come up with a solution but the situation remains one that Guilin said must be approached “with creativity, flexibility and compassion...”
Vincent noted that helping those that are without a home to move forward to a sustainable lifestyle can be “daunting” but a collaborative effort is key.
“Project Hope is a diverse group of individuals equipped to help those ready to receive help...we appreciate the expertise of county agencies,” and Santa Paula’s own Police Chief Steve McLean who Vincent said keeps the committee informed of “what is going on in the neighborhoods” with reports from officers.
Having police involvement is important as those homeless that are not taking part in criminal activity must be separated from those who are lawbreakers and whom Vincent said should be jailed.
Preciado, she added, shows “80 percent compassion and 20 percent enforcement,” in his dealings with the homeless in Camarillo where his program is located.
“We appreciate the commitment of our own Officer Daniel Gosslin who has taken it on himself,” to become involved in working with the committee and the homeless.
“We appreciate his enthusiasm and what he is putting in practice here...and Kay Wilson-Bolton’s wealth of experience,” with the SPIRIT of Santa Paula homeless services as well as the Many Meals food program is invaluable.
Vincent noted that another committee member Pam Marshall was formerly homeless and her experiences are valuable to the committee.
The group meets monthly due to Vice Mayor Hernandez’s “initiative” to create such a task force as well as the support of the council.
She noted that dealing with the homeless is not a “one size fits all kind of work...each person is unique just as we are all unique and requires a unique analysis...that’s what takes so long.”
The committee has discussed a multi-pronged approach including policies and procedures for law enforcement and city code enforcement to be used as a guide to manage service calls, which will be a joint effort with City Manager Jaime Fontes and City Attorney John Cotti.
Vincent noted that Ventura County Behavioral Health crisis teams might also be able to provide assistance.
“We have just begun,” and Vincent invited the council and others interested in the issue to meet with them on the third Thursday of each month at the Community Center.
“One of the things you said was you are working on this with the homeless population that is ready to receive help,” and asked City Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi, “What percentage is not ready to receive help?”
“A majority don’t want help,” said McLean who noted his remark was not based on any “research or analysis” but often the homeless “Don’t like rules...”
“I think it’s important we do what we can to help but we also have a crime problem,” said Gherardi.
The issue is “significant” said McLean because “many are committing crimes...”
Gherardi said she commends the effort “to help the people that can be helped but there’s also the other side of the coin...how do we deal with the ones that can’t be helped?”
City Councilman Jim Tovias said his concern is homeless families and how help could be prioritized for those with children.
“We see that particularly in the summer,” when schools are out and families move said Guilin.
“We see in our churches they often are going from one place to another,” where shelter is available even if it is sleeping in hallways or on porches.
Noted Guilin, “They are essentially homeless although they have a roof over their head...”
The school district has its own guidelines for classifying the homeless said Councilwoman Jenny Crosswhite, which Guilin said is not unique to Santa Paula.
“One of the big problems we’ll have this year is the county has not come up with homeless shelter for the winter.” which Guilin said would put more people on the street.
Hernandez said a pamphlet is being prepared by the county that lists services for the homeless and committee members have been discussing how best to distribute them.
Officers can hand them out at schools as well as to people they encounter that might need services.
“Continuity of Care,” said Hernandez, “is a countywide effort,” and a group where Project Hope must be represented as it does make funding available, preferably for long-term shelters.
He added that at the last Continuity of Care board meeting there was discussion about prioritizing homeless scenarios, “Homeless versus homeless with children, people sleeping under bridges,” with those with the highest need receiving services first. “They’ve already started and have about 30 people in the system so far.”
Overall, the number of homeless men, women and children in Ventura County counted during the one-day January survey decreased for the third straight year, to 1,417 in 2015. There were 20 homeless people counted in Santa Paula. Experts agree that counts could miss many of the homeless who are asked to take part in a short survey for the annual count.
