While the actual Santa Ynez Riverbed falls mostly under the jurisdiction of the County of Santa Barbara, there are areas along the banks of the river and River Park that are part of the City of Lompoc and private property. The County was awarded funds from the State of CA in summer 2023 to begin a new initiative to address encampments near dangerous state right of ways and heavily impacted waterways (to read more, visit https://www.independent.com/2023/06/20/county-of-santa-barbara-awarded-6-million-to-move-people-out-of-encampments-and-into-housing/). This initiative will provide significant new resources to addressing encampments in the riverbed near Lompoc.

We often say that homelessness impacts everyone. The County of Santa Barbara coordinates all homeless outreach teams in Lompoc, and so we encourage you to keep reporting areas of concern to outreach providers using the the Lompoc Homelessness Response Directory (www.sbact.org/homelessnessresponse). These areas will then be brought up at regular coordination meetings to ensure that outreach staff are deployed to the locations that are hardest hit.

When it comes to litter on public property in the City of Lompoc, Lompoc Code Compliance and Lompoc Solid Waste work throughout the City. Illegal dumping/litter on county-owned/controlled property is addressed by the County of Santa Barbara (Abandoned Vehicles/Illegal Dumping: Public Works/Resource Recovery and Waste Management

North County Phone: 805-739-8769

South County Phone: 805-681-4342).

For both of these areas, the designated agency relies on community members to report the litter so they know where to prioritize their efforts. For a listing of how to report these issues, please use the Lompoc Homelessness Response Directory (www.sbact.org/homelessnessresponse).

We agree that having safe, quiet locations where individuals can access supports is a key factor in helping individuals pursue their housing goals. Imagine the challenges of trying to complete a job application or apply for housing without a computer, reliable internet, and a quiet space to sit and focus!

One such space is Transitions Mental Health Association's drop-in center on Wednesdays from 11am-1pm. However, more daytime spaces like this would serve many individuals in Lompoc as they actively work to get off the streets and into housing.

Some faith communities currently provide weekly meals (see the Lompoc Homelessness Response Directory at www.sbact.org/homelessnessresponse), and there may be other programs that we're not aware of.

However, there are so many ways for faith communities to be a part of the solution! They can offer meals in collaboration with case management and housing navigation programs; they can offer overnight and daytime Safe Parking spaces; they can serve as overnight inclement weather shelters during the rainy months, and more. Please contact jhartmann@countyofsb.org if you would like for your faith community to be a part of the solution!

This answer varies greatly based on the individual being served, but it can take anywhere from 10 weeks (https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/09/418546/study-finds-permanent-supportive-housing-effective-highest-risk-chronically) to multiple years for a chronically homeless individual to get housing. It depends on factors such as the individual's level of vulnerability (which impacts how they are prioritized for housing), the availability of permanent housing, and more.

At the County Level:

In FY 22-23, $43.5 million in funding to address homelessness passed through the County budget. Much of the $43.5 million was from State and Federal sources. The vast majority of funding is to provide specific programs, it is not flexible for local communities to decide on best use. The County does not generally fund the cities to address homelessness but funds programs and agencies to serve across jurisdictional boundaries in the County. The County has provided substantial funding to Good Samaritan Shelter and the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara for projects operating in Lompoc.

At the City Level:

The City of Lompoc has several budget line items in the current year's budget to address homelessness:

Safe Parking Program Lot: $24,000

Good Samaritan (Human Services Grant): $23,730

Catholic Charities (Human Services Grant): $20,000

Federal HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance: $123,000

Good Samaritan homeless outreach contract: $20,000

Encampment clean-up: $40,000"

No, other cities are not busing people experiencing homelessness to Lompoc. This is a common misconception. None of the homeless service providers or City agencies support sending anyone experiencing homelessness out of their jurisdiction unless the individual (1) has indicated a desire to move and (2) has verified that they will have adequate housing in the new jurisdiction. This practice would be both unfair to the receiving community and inhumane to the individual being moved.

There are consistently new rumors about this practice in cities throughout Santa Barbara County - meaning Lompoc is not the only City where this rumor exists. However, each time County Housing and Community Development Division staff investigate these rumors they have not been able to find any evidence. If you have heard of an instance of "busing the homeless" happening, please share it with us so that we can investigate further.

Many individuals remain in the communities where they lost housing. For example, in a survey of those at Lompoc's Bridge House, 74% indicated that they were living in Lompoc before they became homeless. So one of the main reasons we see less homelessness in Solvang and Buellton is that fewer households are becoming homeless.

Yes, a big part of homelessness prevention is offering multiple types of resources to vulnerable households (employment support, behavioral health services, flexible funds for emergency expenses, and more).

One of the best ways to support an individual who is at risk of losing housing is to call the County of Santa Barbara's Diversion Hotline at (805) 519-1302 (English) or (805) 518-2679 - (Spanish) and ask to speak to a Diversion Specialist. You can also visit Good Samaritan's Diversion office at 510 N I Street on Fridays 9am-11am. Diversion is the process of helping individuals identify immediate solutions before they lose housing.

The County in partnership with South Coast cities has seen a decrease in the unsheltered population in Santa Barbara primarily due to new shelter and housing programs in the South Coast region. Most persons receiving shelter or housing are provided that service where they are experiencing homelessness. This is actually a formal policy of the SB County Continuum of Care and most funding sources. There are exceptions for example when a domestic violence survivor needs to relocate to a different area.

Cypress and 7th is currently under development in the City of Lompoc. (please ask the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara for specifics).

The 442 permanent units that have been added to the Continuum of Care since the Community Action Plan was adopted in February 2021 include long term rental subsidy vouchers and housing development. In Lompoc, this includes 47 households that benefitted from a federally funded Emergency Housing Voucher to transition out of homelessness. The two accessory dwelling units added to Marks House are the only permanent development projects included in the 442 new units.

The 146 permanent units that were in Lompoc as part of the 2023 Housing Inventory Chart for units dedicated to persons experiencing homelessness includes 66 units of Rapid Re-Housing (short or medium term rental subsidy with services to transition a household out of homelessness) and 70 units that include Homebase on G Street, Homekey Studios on B Street, Marks House Bungalows and some Veteran houses.

Lompoc Police Department will respond to calls for service regarding theft no matter the housing status of the perpetrator. However, CA state law states that theft of merchandise less than $950 constitutes a misdemeanor, meaning that smaller thefts are likely to be treated as a lower priority (again, regardless of the housing status of the perpetrator).

Yes, they are. However, in order for police to enforce trespassing violations on private property, you must be willing to call to report the trespassing, and to press charges. If you would like for Lompoc Police Department to enforce trespassing when you are not present, you must complete a "LPD Trespass Form" at www.cityoflompoc.com/government/departments/police/programs/department-jail/manuals. This is the only way that law enforcement will be authorized to enforce trespassing concerns on your property.

Unfortunately the Safe Parking Program does not currently have any parking spaces in Lompoc to accommodate RVs. Please please contact safeparking@sbnbcc.org if your faith community or business would like to offer your parking lot!

The best way to address and prevent these issues in the future is to report them! Please report any illegal dumping using the contact info on the Lompoc Homelessness Response Directory.

RV owners on City streets are responsible for their own water disposal. If you witness any illegal dumping in City streets, please report it using the contact info on the Lompoc Homelessness Response Directory.

There is now one parking lot in Lompoc! However, the Safe Parking Program team is looking for more lots, especially lots that can accommodate RV parking. Please email safeparking@sbnbcc.org if your church or business would like to offer your parking lot!

Thank you for sharing this! We have shared this information with homeless outreach providers. If you would like to report additional instances of homelessness, please use the phone numbers or email addresses listed on the Lompoc Homelessness Directory.

The Safe Parking Program is looking for more lots throughout Lompoc for both overnight and daytime parking! If your faith community or business would be interested in being a part of the solution by providing parking spaces, please contact safeparking@sbnbcc.org.

"We agree! While there is nothing currently in the works, but individuals can get a shower at the Trinity Church of the Nazarene CLC (500 E North Avenue) on Saturdays 1pm-3pm. Contact info@micahmission.com for more information.

If community members are interested in having a mobile shower program, we encourage you to check out the models utilized by Showers of Blessing (Santa Barbara) and Showers and Blessings (Santa Maria).

We're not aware that a mobile shower program has been attempted in Lompoc.

If community members are interested in setting up a program like this, we encourage you to reach out to Good Samaritan Shelter and/or the Safe Parking Program (please see the Lompoc Homelessness Response Directory) so that they can identify the clients that would most benefit from this service.

Socks are always helpful! They help us to build trust with individuals experiencing homelessness. As the winter months get closer, organizations welcome donations of sleeping bags and tarps as well.

Organizations like Good Samaritan Shelter and New Beginnings Counseling Center would love volunteer support with meals, donations, and more. To be a part of the solutions, please contact them using the info on the Lompoc Homelessness Response Directory.

Oak Street House provides emergency shelter for women. To find out whether there is availability, call 805-735-4390. Otherwise there is unfortunately nowhere else in Lompoc at present! This is an issue county-wide; we don't have enough shelter beds for the number of individuals that are in need of a safe place to sleep.