As we wrap up another year, we take a moment to reflect back on the progress we’ve made through our United to End Homelessness VC Initiative. This month marks the 2-year anniversary of its launch, and with your help, and the support of strong community partnerships, we’ve been able to permanently house 130 individuals. We look forward to sharing more exciting news with you in 2022, as we continue to expand our efforts.
Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) intended to help prevent and end homelessness are now available for Santa Barbara County residents in desperate need. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law in March by President Biden, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $5 billion in funding for emergency housing vouchers to be distributed nationwide for housing the homeless. HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said, “Homelessness in the United States was increasing even before COVID-19, and we know the pandemic has only made the crisis worse. HUD’s swift allocation of this $5 billion in American Rescue Plan funding reflects our commitment to addressing homelessness as a priority. With this strong funding, communities across the country will have the resources needed to give homes to the people who have had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic without one.”
United Way of Ventura County is excited to announce its United to End Homelessness Virtual Symposium on Friday, April 9, at 9 a.m. PST. The symposium will feature Matthew Desmond, author of Pulitzer Prize winning bestseller “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” as its keynote speaker. Following Desmond’s address, there will be an opportunity for a Q&A session with the author, which will then lead into a panel discussion with local experts — moderated by Henry Dubroff, editor of the Pacific Coast Business Times — on addressing homelessness.
The two-hour, virtual, one-time live event is one of many efforts United Way of Ventura County will be launching to continue bringing awareness to its United to End Homelessness initiative, honor its mission “to mobilize and inspire the caring power and resources of our community,” and address the shelter crisis in Ventura County.
Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine (DWW–SBSM) has been nationally recognized for its healthcare efforts to benefit the homeless in the Santa Barbara community. Nominated by local Medi-Cal managed care plan CenCal Health, DWW–SBSM received an honorable mention from The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) at its fifteenth annual Supporting the Safety Net Award program held last month. The earned recognition honors community organizations and individuals nationwide that exceed expectations for care by implementing health programs to benefit underserved populations.
United Way of Ventura County COVID-19 Rapid Response Homeless Care Kits Drive We’ve extended our Rapid Response Homeless Care Kits drive to June 1, 2020, to help more of our most vulnerable neighbors in need during this public health crisis.…
VENTURA — Sometimes the small things make a big difference. For many people without a permanent home, a pair of clean, warm socks brings comfort that the more fortunate take for granted. The Ventura County Continuum of Care recently applied…
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes It was like being at a cocktail party, listening to an animated, passionate conversation among a group of people about a “hot button” topic: the homeless. But I wasn’t actually at a…
