It is especially heartbreaking to see children and families facing the struggles of being homeless. It is important to remember that you can never tell what situation a person is dealing with until you get to know them. Many homeless individuals live in Santa Barbara because there are very mild temperatures here (for example, it would be harder to live in a place that snowed in the winters or got very hot in the summers) and many good resources to help people get back on their feet.
There are many resources for homeless or poor individuals in Santa Barbara. There are services that provide free showers, free laundry, and mental and health services on specific days of the week. I am part of a group called Doctors Without Walls that provides free medical care for homeless individuals. Everyone is a volunteer and donates their time to help this specific group of people. We either set up a make-shift clinic in a park or local building a few times a week and welcome all homeless or low-income individuals. We have volunteer doctors and nurses that help patients get the care that they need. I volunteer as a scribe, where I follow the doctor in the park as they meet patients and write everything down for them (from the patient's name and problems to the doctor's diagnosis and treatment). It is amazing being able to help so many people and to witness healing first hand. Though we are doing great work, there is always more help needed. The goal is not only to help their immediate issues but to help these individuals get jobs and off the streets of Santa Barbara. We are constantly trying to think of new ways to improve our community and I hope you are too!
