Homelessness in Santa Barbara will no longer occur by 2017. At least that’s the goal for Bringing Our Community Home the organization that began its “10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Santa Barbara County” two years ago. So far, they have made some improvements, and now they are implementing a new aspect to the program that they are confident will accelerate success through the plan’s remaining eight years.
The Homeless Inmate Jail Discharge Planning Program was launched in November, 2009 with the hiring of a discharge planner: Tona Wakefield. It is in response to the normal cycle experienced by homeless inmates, the majority of whom suffer from mental illness, chronic alcoholism, or substance abuse. Or all three. Because there is not enough space in facilities meant for dealing specifically with these problems, jail has become “the largest de facto in-patient psychiatric and detox faculty,” said project organizers in a written statement.
The new program, which is coordinating with the County Sheriff Department, aims to fill the gap for these inmates between jail and the hopefully no-longer-inevitable return to homelessness. Instead of returning directly to the streets upon release from the County Jail, inmates will be intercepted by Discharge Planner Wakefield.