Uffizi Mission Project

Ending Santa Barbara County Homelessness

Jeff — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:15 +0000

Well, well, well – the beauty and the danger of the blog is that it allows me some free speech and the chance to influence. Normal people can get their say whether they have power or no power. I am somewhere in between. Because of the impact of Common Ground Santa Barbara, the vulnerability index, and how that may help people get housed gives me some influence.

I remember taking a course on “power.” We all have some level of power – it is whether we use it and how we use it. And it is those who have some voice, some power, who must speak up for those who do not have much, have little, have none.

Many of our street friends live within that reality of “limited power.”

While I believe that my friends on the streets must also recognize their own power in making decisions toward health (that is a human decision making process we are all involved in), I believe many of them have lost hope or have been beaten down so many times and left by the side of the road. Think of young men and women un-parented or consider perhaps the fact that 50% of our street friends suffer depression or that there are 300+ with a high diagnosis of mental illness…

Homelessness is complex for sure – we can discuss it some time.

But, here is the truth. This past year I have been more involved with the professionals and electeds – and I recognize that it those relationships that need to be better oiled with grace and understanding. I am now including myself in that equation as a member of Common Ground Santa Barbara. It is how we relate together and work together that will impact whether our friends get housing, needed resources, healthy community. That also includes the involvement of faith communities and volunteers.

So – mayors, supervisors, shelters, homeless advocates, mental health workers, public health workers, housing authorities, street outreach workers, meal sharers, Jesus Followers, volunteers, police officers, business owners, funders… the list goes on and on… how we work together will determine our success.

We need to consider last year Registry Week and all those it took to successfully converse with over 1,000 street friends and do the Vulnerability index in order to work better to get the sick in housing. It is great that we could do it for a week, but it will be more difficult to get it done for a year, 3 years, 5 years…

Those with power need to recognize how it influences those without power.

My gut tells me it could swing either way with us housed people. We are fickle. We often take our toys and go home.

Here’s to a new year of sticking together I hope. And, I also hope that the volunteer movement will grow as funds may decrease. Average people can do great things.

Because of the Need

Jeff — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:59:08 +0000

Several times in Christian circles I have heard this – “Now remember, we don’t do this because of the need…” I now see that statement as classic “pass the buck” theology. It is the thinking that has placed us in such a situation of great and overwhelming need… and so the story goes on…

I do what I do because of the “need” – while I admit the there was a calling when God asked me to open the door of the Uffizi for the church in Santa Barbara… to open the door of the Uffizi was to open the way to “incarnation.”

For Jesus surely came because of “our need.” At Christmas time for Christ followers – it is primarily to admit our own need. Christ would have no need to come at all if it were not for our “sickness.” He was the “doctor” who came for the “sick.” If the founder came because of need, then we can surely embrace doing what we do because of this same need.

Calling can be true but waiting for it can surely be escapism. Scriptures on how to “be with” and “care for” the poor surely are a calling… and don’t forget that discipleship in rabbinical times certainly had no “escapism” within it. Take a look at Mark 9 and witness how Jesus travels from a safe mountain top experience to one down in the valley with a boy in extreme crisis and in need of healing.

We have to examine our hearts. We have to embrace the power of love in Jesus. We have the opportunity before us to create solutions and ways for others out of extreme poverty.

Solutions:

#1 – We are currently creating a new model county wide to make a serious dent in local homelessness. This plan involves the training of volunteers to work with friends living on the streets, in vehicles, and moving into housing. It involves normal people like us who are there to insure that people don’t fall between the cracks (which often happens to people as little creases in our systems and programs exist). It also involves a revolutionary new structure that all stakeholders in local homelessness need to agree upon and begin working better together.

You can sign up for the training at – http://www.commongroundsb.org/empowerment-training.html.

#2 – Santa Barbara has another secret side – it has a conflicted relationship with its Latino residents and sojourners. It does not know how to deal with the crisis of “citizenship.” And the church does not know fully how to express its relationship now to scriptures on how to care for “visitors.” We may try to pretend the issue is not really there, or there are no solutions – so we will remain silent on the issue. However, we are taking one bold step toward a solution with Immigrant Hope. Today several of us are meeting to begin phase one of Immigrant Hope, which will be a way for our Latino friends to find the love of God and begin the real work of attaining US citizenship. Though it will take years to establish – we believe it is a holistic solution to what is clearly a Santa Barbara citywide “need.”

Don’t practice pass the buck theology when you have two hours a week to work toward a greater incarnation in Santa Barbara. Let this Christmas compel you toward living the Way.

I myself would much rather be doing something else – and I will when everyone is off the streets and when the West Side is a place of peace. I can retire at the true establishment of the loving Kingdom of God.

The Vulnerability Index changes everything

Jeff — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:43:14 +0000

The other day on the West Side one of the kids came by to ask us to help him get blood stains off the pavement. A relative of his had tried to take his own life over the weekend and they were in the midst of cleaning up after the event. The relative is now at Cottage. We walked over with him and saw the stain ourselves. My son is nearly the age of this boy – and I wonder what it would be like for him to have to be cleaning blood stains in an apt and off the pavement.

Also recently a woman on the streets burned to death as she was sheltered in a local industrial yard. She was around 40 years of age. You can read about her and the story at Noozhawk.com if you read the most recent article by Ken Williams. The questions are many – but why are there so many women living on our streets?

I was talking with a co-worker at the Village about this existence we now share – how it is slightly surreal and neither of us know how we got where we are. She is younger and has spent less time within this side of Santa Barbara – but wonders why less emotions are coming when faced with the situations she sees… I encourage her that it is normal but not to become as cynical as I am sometimes. We have to remain hopeful and “in” with others – “present.”

I can remain hopeful because I see light at the end of the tunnel – I can see awareness building and people desiring to enter in more – to the “other side of Santa Barbara.” There’s the post card Santa Barbara and then there are the snapshots that don’t quite fit the economic niche. Part of my job is to bring these photos out of the dark room for you.

But it is not so much that we need to fix the situation – but we should be “with” these people.

Recently there has been a swing in a certain term – the scale of these terms – “homeless” and “friends without homes.” You can catch the local paper now using “street neighbor” or “street friend” more – and I have heard that a few local pastors are using the “friends without homes” term from the pulpit. That to me is a sign of success – because it means we are moving toward a relational “being with” focus.

We cannot fix this – but we can be with our friends in the midst of this… and I believe by this move systematic change happens, because advocacy happens.

I noted this with the vulnerability index which took place in March, 2011. The VI sought to discover the most vulnerable in our county. County wide government, agencies, advocacy groups, faith communities worked together to canvas the streets and discover those who are most vulnerable on our streets. It has sparked a huge change – opened the door to better collaboration and embarked us on a new volunteer movement.

And guess what, 94 people have been housed off the index list. This includes individuals and families county wide. Sylvia from Good Samaritan in Santa Maria told us that for the first time, she moved whole families from her shelter into local housing. This happens as awareness and advocacy grows.

I sat in two days of discussions as local stakeholders facing issues regarding our friends without homes discussed how we can work together better in the future. The vulnerability index really was the reason for the discussion, and has bridged us all together to face one issue – getting the sick off our streets and into housing. Our friends and neighbors should not die on the streets.

I only need to mention one story – the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. Santa Barbara needs to continue to move toward becoming a good samaritan city. Our issues are “our issues.” We face them together.

The are moments to set a movement a change – the VI index has given us that opportunity. But what solutions are still to come for women on the streets who may not be the “most vulnerable” (though I have a tough time believing that) What solutions are there for our West Side (and East Side) youth for an “empowered future?” What leans young people from suicide to hope?

The solution is not found in the ivory tower – but in human real life engagement, where your story meets the story of the other. The hero of the good samaritan story is the one who recognized that “the other” was really a part of his own history, his story – an unavoidable connection.

I discover my own vulnerabilities as I work with those who may at this moment be at huge risk. My mind cannot solve, handle or understand even what I have immersed myself into – but I know that I myself am just as vulnerable, at risk and in need, and at any moment could be injured on the side of the road. I am selfishly hoping that someone will be there for me as well.

The Meek Just May “Occupy” The Earth

Jeff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:45:31 +0000

I remember watching the old Westerns where someone would put their ear to the earth to listen for the coming of the train, wagons, enemy, etc… It seems that the closer your ear is to the earth, the better prepared you are for the coming change. The 99% and the 1% all know one thing – change is needed and it is coming. The closer your ear is to the earthy cultures – the more you will understand the disappearance of the middle class and a certain way of life.

But those who are considered “poor,” have always known how this would go, and how to live with less, and the struggles that may soon befall us all.

I heard today that Greece may be kicked out of the EU. That is something we should pay attention to.

But we have not paid attention to our own local poor, and to what they are experiencing and trying to tell us. They are trying to become our teachers – seems the tables have been turned over – the rolls are being reversed.

So yesterday I received word that one of my street friends has died in Arizona after being on the streets and ill for years.

A West Side 10 year old came to me with her mother to tell me they have no insurance and she has been in the hospital several times because her stomach hurts and they can’t figure it out. How can they pay their bills and remain housed?

I received a facebook message from a single mom losing her housing.

I received an email from a single mom trying to find housing who has two days left in a local shelter and needs an advocate.

I went up to Westmont for the day to a missions fair to try to sign up students to help with what is going on in the city but feel bad about it because I know students there are hit with the needs and opportunities all the time. I don’t want to make anyone feel guilty…

But at the same point, I am trying to prepare “us” for what is coming. The American dream may not be the same dream it was, or sustainable in the face of an even better dream.

The dream may be “shalom.” But that dream can be costly to the ruling class – the one with power, wealth, and resources. The dream states that those with power must learn to share it, must be concerned with those with the least power. It must seek ways for justice and equalize the economy – must seek for just solutions.

Shalom is to seek the holistic well being of others – that in doing so you will find your own well being. I think we have done the opposite, believing that finding our own best if first, and then hoping it would trickle down. It isn’t trickling very well.

I have had my ears to the earth – I have had new teachers. My teachers for the past year have not been the middle class – they have been street friends and west side families. I am wrestling now with the contradictions of my many teachers.

As I am listening – I hear something approaching. I am not sure what it is yet. But I think everyone hears the faint sound now – the trick is not to fool yourself and believe that change is not inevitable. The meek will inherit the earth. It may be sooner than we thought.

Oh, and one final thought just hit me – the church should celebrate the meek occupying the earth – it is our original vision.

Personal Preference for the Poor

Jeff — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:09:58 +0000

This morning I will be meeting with a family living in a vehicle. I don’t know them yet, but will seeing them at 11am. I got connected through a friend. This is now the story of my life.

This week we moved in two friends from Casa Esperanza to the Village Apartments. Friends were moving them in – providing furniture and care. I know that I will soon know them well as I work at the Village through the week. One of them was on our vulnerability index from Common Ground Santa Barbara. Many have helped them get from the streets to housing.

I went up to Westmont this week with Ken Williams and he was able to show the film Shelter to some students in Adams 216. It was a handful of students. The film is both hopeful and depressing – but Ken tells the story well. 2 out of 4 street friends in the film have no passed.

We had a meeting with Reality church this week to discuss the potential of partnering with them to help more people get in the city and work within the poorer subcultures. The meeting went well – we are all hopeful. In many ways they share the same heart as the Uffizi Mission Project.

I also met with about 8 grad students from Fuller Theological Seminary. I hosted them at the Village for a discussion of how our work is becoming more communal… They had many questions for me of course, but I had one for them. How do we assist seminaries in equipping more people to deal with the reality of the poor vs. the norm of middle class culture? They were similarly interested – but no answers.

I am working with Free Methodist Church – they may want to do a Giving Tree to assist West Side kids with getting to camp this summer.

I am up at Westmont every week trying to work my way in to discover how their systems work. Westmont is the Christ following community on the hill – already greatly impacting the city but there is more to do. But you know what to – I just love my time with Westmont friends too.

I am rereading Shalom by Brueggemann – because I am almost obsessed with it.

Two of my strengths on Strength Finders are – futuristic and strategic. I see that the demographics of the USA are changing, the middle class is disappearing, and our idea of who Christ is must come down a notch to His personal preference to the poor, because that is becoming “us.” And shouldn’t it be? What level of connection does our reality need to have to our founder?

The reformation of our church to be able to work within the true existing holistic reality of our city is a necessity. It is why I now admit my personal preference for the poor.

the responsibilities of kings

Jeff — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:30:56 +0000

I am very sensitive to “power.” Where it is – and how it is used and abused. The whole current “occupy” movement may in fact be a sense of how the current power situation is in the US – who has it and who doesn’t and the ramifications of an unchecked industrial corporate power system that is not or cannot be sensitive to the common person.

I had power – I lost power – I have power again. How am I using it? How am I facing either a corrupt, negligent, or apathetic system of power in my own setting? Kings have responsibilities to use power in a certain way to care for those who do not have a loud voice – whose stories are not being spoken.

I know this, because this week I had a decision to make to whether pull together a meeting or not pull together a meeting to help someone of the vulnerability secure housing. I was faced with my own issues of whether to push further to get these friends housed, or whether to hand that responsibility to someone else. I could have allowed the discussion to go back into the system. This seems to be what happens so often – not going the extra mile. I almost flinched at a very important moment in the lives of two men. These men have power themselves, and will ultimately I hope have a chance to teach their stories, but in the moment I had to consider the power given to me to make a meeting happen.

I also sat with new friends damaged within a unique church system having to find healing outside of the very supposed system set up for their own care. Most church systems are not harmful, but ones which do not recognize their own sense of power for good or evil, can go easily astray.

I spend most of my time now with the “powerless” primarily because I experienced being on the outside.

Kings not well connected to most neglected are not good kings at all.

I am still captivated by the vision of shalom, of seeking the “holistic welfare” of your community, and that only be doing so will you find your own welfare. We cannot expect to fly in some unrealistic comfort and safety above the insanity of the West Side, East Side, and issues facing homelessness. Not that these cultures are completely crazy, since in many ways they have “saved” my life – but for most they create a sense of fear or at least trepidation at the unknown.

In conversations today at Westmont college, I was told that some students last year thought they were sold a raw deal when they participated in a get to know your city day, only to be confronted with West Side, East Side, and homeless issues. I guess that is not a viable part of our city?

We can’t escape the underbelly of our city – it isn’t all mountains and beaches. And I would expect Jesus followers to be more interested in struggling subcultures than any others…

Many of you are the Kings of the city – you have been given or have power. I bug you on behalf of those who may not have the same power, or who may have it but it needs to be nurtured in them to come to fruition. Recognize your royalty during this time and act responsibly.

Power and Poverty

Jeff — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:08:13 +0000

I don’t believe that the “average” person understands how much “power” they actually have, and how that power can change local “poverty.”

I think many are waiting for someone else who seemingly has the power to do something about it. We are not owning the issues in our own community.

People in the church are waiting for the pastor to lead the way.

People are waiting for the government to do its job, or for the non-profit, or for the wonder grant. Perhaps it is some miraculous agency. But certainly not “us.”

But, my message really is that it is indeed “us.” I am not waiting or depending on anyone else but the average person.

We are restructuring everything “friends without homes” in our county. We are bringing in the political, the institutional, the agencies, street outreach, everything already existing – with a big dose of “you.” I don’t think anything will be successful without an educated, trained, grass root force.

And, let’s bring another thing up and front – an empowered and trusted group of street friends to participate in the county wide merge. I am currently working with a local farm to see if we can build an empowerment project where friends from the streets or recently housed can inform and lead us?

Average people can do amazing things. A group of nobodies who knew nothing started the Pershing Park meal sharing and that became my entrance into understanding local homelessness. (well, some people knew something on that team, but not me!) That meal sharing educated me, primarily through listening to the stories of street friends, which led to partnerships with local agencies, recruiting churches to help, and Doctors without Walls joining – all of which brought me here – front and center in working to solve homelessness.

Solve it? Why not? Aim high.

You see, I think it is solvable if we take it on as our communal responsibility. Jesus teaches that we are in a sense connected to all our neighbors – we should treat them as we would like to be treated.

I don’t want to sleep outside. I want friends. I want healing. I am hungry.

So, yes – each one on the street has choices and responsibility too. But the truth I find is this – many have been damaged, many need new and faithful community – loving new support systems to become better. This is something you can do – be a part of a new support system. Become a long term learner. Hang in there through all the difficulties.

You have power. Use it. Your use or lack of use of power does influence the local scene of poverty.

I sat with some local West Side kids this week who did art projects to illustrate the West Side story. One young man shared that it was valuable to keep him out of trouble. You can do art projects with West Side kids.

I went to West Side Kids Club Wednesday and played soccer with two guys and was schooled. You can play soccer one hour a week with West Side kids. And the benefits – I got to sit at a table with a group of West Side kids and eat some fruit loops (it was supposed to be an art project – I failed) You get to be a kid again

Your have power for good. There is a very simple scripture – “overcome evil with good.” That is your power fully available now – to put into practice doing good in culture now.

The other options – 1) Hand your power to someone else 2) Be powerless 3) Expect poverty to just go away

Delusional.

I move forward expecting you will show up and be powerful.

Dream is Collapsing

Jeff — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:51:06 +0000

I have been a big believer in synchronicity, intuition, and the prophetic living impulse…

I have been reading Mountains Beyond Mountains, reading emails from a friend regarding the poverty and recent atrocities in Sudan, and listening to the soundtrack Inception.

One of the cuts from the soundtrack to Inception is titled “Dream is Collapsing.”

If you have seen the movie, you know it is about the world of dream and reality, what is real vs. what is a dream. I live in this reality holding the dream of shalom – I realize ultimately one dream is collapsing while another is being created.

The dream that is collapsing is the one about our own comfort and safety and satisfaction in a world that God is connecting us to (whether it is our neighbor next door, 1o minutes away on the West Side or on State Street, or across the world in Haiti or Sudan)… the dream that is collapsing is the one that keeps us apathetic but seemingly falsely fulfilled and happy.

Synchronistically speaking, the underlying dream of shalom (“holistic well being” – those in power have the primary charge of seeing that it happens) may be trying to tie us all together.

Intuitively, like Jesus who warned us to know the seasons, I know change is ahead and nothing can keep it up from coming – it is a done deal. We are leaving one time epoch and entering another…

Prophetically, it is what I want to tell you, warn you about, fill you in on – and invite those who see it as well to walk in it and speak it.

We cannot live detached from the needs of our time – we cannot find fulfillment in a false wish dream of consumerism any longer.

will the opportunity just slip away?

Jeff — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:46:53 +0000

I am in the midst of reading Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder, “the quest of Dr. Paul Farmer…” I am about 1/3 through it, so who knows how it ends? It has encouraged me forward – that is the least I can say. Dr. Farmer says it straight and it would be well for us to heed some of his thoughts, especially as our global economy is slowly changing the game (don’t sleep through it) ”The Only Real Nation is Humanity”

Somewhere God’s pure DNA for me was corrupted with a humanist tint – and no matter what I can’t escape an interest in the real time plight of my brothers and sisters on earth, all the while knowing there is a better government coming.

There is no perfect plan or formula, besides getting involved. It will be the ones who are in the day to day grime that find the solution, not the bystanders waiting for it to fit their perfect picture or who await some heavenly bell to beckon them forward.

It should be enough to pay attention to the plight of the poor in your own surroundings and decide to do something about it or find someone who is doing something about it and join in.

I see the puzzle pieces thrown throughout the city and can see how if it were organized then we could offer more solutions or listen for better solutions to those who have found themselves in desperate situations. Everything is there for solutions to be found, besides perhaps the time, energy, heart, and unifying force that is needed.

As Common Ground works to combine with other forces to succeed in housing the most vulnerable, and create supportive services – I see tremendous potential but still the in fighting which may kill the whole deal before it gets a chance to role.

We have the relationships with street people now to learn from them and listen. We have the ear of politicians and county wide services. We have a grass root volunteer movement. We have an awakening but still uneducated church potentially charting a course to get involved. But still my intuition says it is a toss up – because human beings can be territorial and find it hard to work together.

I still have bed to sleep in if we fail – you may as well. I have reliable work at this point to provide for myself and my family. I hope you do too.

But the fact is, the most vulnerable (however it happened), will be the ones who suffer because the vision collapses.

I have heard that we do not do what we do because of the need, which is a half truth. It is a half truth that has blinded us to the need, as if my brother or sister is the responsibility of someone else, some group or government agency should do something about it.

I understand that we need to teach people “to fish,” as well, so those of us who are outsiders are not spellbound in relief for ages and ages.

But the test of it now is with the most vulnerable – the sick and the mentally ill. Does our society have enough gas in it to care that people do not die directly on the streets? Or will the opportunity just slip away?

the vulnerability list

Jeff — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:26:59 +0000

There now exists a list of 100 friends from the streets that are deemed the most vulnerable – those who may die on our streets if they do not receive housing. Common Ground Santa Barbara, trained by the 100khomes campaign, has initiated the process of determining the most vulnerable and began the chase to create a county wide “housing first” model. We are still working through the kinks, because not everyone will be willing to house first it seems, but still the pursuit is on…

Common Ground SB (basically now a core vision team of three with other volunteers and sub-committees) is a grass root movement seeking new support and leadership by partnering with the county wide ten year plan – BOCH. Plans and discussions are still in the works.

It seems to me both completely possible yet quite fanatical to think it is even a long shot that it can be done.

But for too long local homelessness has been a problem handed off to someone other than you. That’s right, you.

Yes funds are being cut. Seems to everyone a huge increase in the amount of mentally ill on the streets while street outreach is cut. Clearly the job market is tough for everyone, so how does someone homeless have a chance? Yes, there is injustice in the system and that needs to be addressed.

But we can’t give the problem to someone else.

I find myself committed to people on the streets through the work of our Christian Associates team at Pershing Park every Wednesday. I am committed to our vision of a holistically healthy West Side as we work within apartment complexes. And then I say, “go ahead and add another 15 hours a week via Common Ground?” While my sensibilities say that it is not something I can do, I am not willing to hand the problem to someone else.

This week I have a couple of meetings as we develop a training program for faith communities to enter in, be trained, and support people as they are housed. I am setting up appointments with churches to see if they want in, and so far response for the most part has been positive.

In the meetings with local politicians and professionals, I remind them that while this is their issue, we can no longer just count on them. It is a community wide issue, the community needs to be in this. I don’t expect anyone can do it alone – it will take a well oiled coalition. A major part of this coalition will be normal people like me and you.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, it is the average guy who does something about it. We can argue about whether it is the right thing or not later (not sure if he was even trained?) – but there was this initiative within him of both love and hard work. Sorry that Common Ground has to come in and interrupt you – but there are dually diagnosed sick friends on the street in a similar condition who day in and day out find that people pass on by…

We did everything wrong when we started our meal sharing at the library which moved to Alameda and then multiplied to Pershing Park. Not everyone likes our pot luck gig for various reasons still. But the facts are that through a simple thing like a meal sharing people have found relationships that have led some back home, to detox, into housing. It is grass root, messy, imperfect, risky, beautiful…

Come into the grass root, messy, imperfect, risky, beautiful and walk with us as we house the most vulnerable.