Our Neighbors On The Streets: A Social Justice Perspective

  “THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS IS MORALLY WRONG” By Wayne M. Mellinger Noozhawk Columnist 26 April 2022 In the five years that Texas-born Anthony Reeves has been homeless in Santa Barbara he’s gotten over a dozen tickets for just existing in public spaces.   “They seem to not want us around,” he told me several weeks ago.   “You wouldn’t believe how many tickets I gotten for petty stuff—sitting on a sidewalk, sleeping at the beach, urinating in the bushes in the middle of the night. I now have a rap sheet a couple pages long and that makes finding work and a place to live even that much harder.” Reeves lives in the city of Santa Barbara, California, where, with 822 unhoused people there are almost three times as many homeless people as there are emergency shelter beds.   Hundreds of people, including many women, people with mental health challenges, those who are elderly, and / or disabled live on the streets year round. This lack of shelter beds forces peop...

   A MARSHALL PLAN TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING  IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D. Representative, Santa Barbara Continuum of Care (DRAFT: 3 March 2022) INTRODUCTION Governor Gavin Newsom several years ago suggested a “Marshall Plan” to deal with the 150,000 unhoused people in the State of California.  The phrase “Marshal Plan” suggests a policy based on a massive infusion of financing to deal with an issue, as the United States did in 1948 to reconstruct postwar Europe, thus creating stable economies in which democracy could flourish.  Our current approach to homelessness is not working very well. Since I became involved in local homeless issues in 2007 our population of unhoused people has stayed relatively the same, at around 2000 for the County of Santa Barbara.  I want to explore what a “Marshall Plan” might look like for Santa Barbara County in which our community massively invests in a substantial amount of affordable housing—enoug...

  A Prayer For Those who Serve For Michelle Williams Let us be grateful for those who serve the poor and disadvantaged for they are the visionary builders of the Beloved Community.   True faith does not stay locked within the walls of a church but instead continually reaches out to those who need. Don’t walk past that stranger pretending you do not see their pain and suffering.   Instead open your heart and show them you really care.   Feed the hungry.   Shelter the homeless. Visit the sick and the prisoner. When we overcome our cold indifferences and give of ourselves to the poor, we show we love our neighbors.   Goodness and strength are not found in blank stares, closed fists and crossed arms but are manifest through ready arms outreached to the poor. 30 November 2021 Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D.

 SOME THOUGHTS IN HOUSING RETENTION By Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D. December 2021 Here are some expanded and revised thoughts on Housing Retention that I wanted to share, which came to me during our last meeting. I approach these suggestions as someone with lived experience, particularly as a dually diagnosed individual who was chronically homeless and initially struggled to maintain housing. My perspective is shaped by this personal journey, and while my comments are grounded in my own experience, they reflect what I believe could contribute to more effective housing retention practices. Some of these suggestions may seem like commonsense, while others might be more controversial. Nonetheless, I hope they can spark further discussion and ultimately lead to positive changes. A Thorough Examination of the Housing First Model is Critical One of the most important things we need to address is the understanding and implementation of the Housing First model. I was surprised and, frank...

Letter to the Longest Night Collective sent October 10, 2021  Dear Friends,   It is time again for us to begin planning " Longest  Night: A National Memorial Day for Those Who Have Died on the Streets" -- our yearly interfaith candlelight prayer vigil held on Winter Solstice on the Steps of the Santa Barbara Courthouse.  This year that will be Tuesday December 21, 2021.  We typically gather at 5pm.   In 2013 Rev. Julia Hamilton, Rev. John Lemmond and I gathered at Crush Cakes to work out a program of service for our first  Longest  Night.  While it has been eight years since we started doing this, we have not had 8 events.  The Thomas Fire caused us to halt on plans one year, as did COVID this past year.   Please find the 2019 Order of Service attached.   First concern, should a modified event be held or should this be done on zoom?  Because we meet outdoors we could just ask for social distancing between participants...