SB ACT offers new resource to improve public response to homelessness

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Joe Alfaro greets his coworker at his new job in Santa Barbara.

The nonprofit SB ACT just hired Alfaro as an ambassador helping the homeless in the community.

"It’s all about getting the right information if you want to change your life," said Alfaro.

But Alfaro didn’t always have a job or a home for that matter.

“Didn't get the right information … I was living in my car with my dog," said Alfaro.

One day, Alfaro met the SB ACT team who introduced him to a variety of resources that would soon help get his life back on track.

The high spirited ambassador is now working with the nonprofit, the City of Santa Barbara and Goleta to help the general public in an entirely new way.

“We get community members all the time asking us what do i do about homelessness? What can I do? what do I do? If I see someone in need? What do I do if I see somebody who is in encampment," said associate director Landon Ranch of SB ACT.

The SB ACT team believes there are more 911 calls being made when it’s not always effective for homeless situations.

“911 is great and really important if it’s an emergency if someone is a harm to themselves or others, however when that’s not the case, there’s a lot of other resources that actually may be more effective and solving the problem," said Ranck.

SB ACT created a new response directory for a variety of services related to homelessness.

“You’ve got actually a list of some of the most frequently needed phone numbers … like for example if a person is experiencing a mental health crisis there’s the behavioral wellness access line ... if you’ve got an individual whose maybe just in need of housing services ... here’s the phone number for the downtown homeless outreach program," said Ranck.

The SB ACT team hopes with the new card the community will be able to more effectively respond to homelessness in our community.

“My hope is these cards will be dispersed into the community into the right hands of people who need help … and that’s what we hope that they can see us as … a source of help," said ambassador Kamala Rose of SB ACT.

It's a source Alfaro is forever grateful to receive.

"Because it's tough living on the street … and they have all kinds of knowledge here," said Alfaro.

“Re really want to make sure that community members know that there’s a lot of different ways that we can compassionately reach out to those who are experiencing homelessness … and support them and help them get off the streets," said Ranck.

And the first step is getting the new card.

Associate Director of SB ACT, Landon Ranck, wants to educate community members on all the resources at their disposal outside of just calling 911.

For example, if you see an individual having a mental health crisis, the directory will share who to call if you want to ensure outreach workers are sent to an encampment.

The team hopes to spread the word to the public about the existence of these directories.

The SB ACT team hopes with these new resources, the community will be able to more effectively respond to homelessness in our community.

For more information on SB ACT, visit: https://sbact.org/.