What Does Recovery From COVID-19 Look Like?
We can consider both the perspective of an individual recovering from the disease and the entire community that has been impacted by the loss of life, economic impacts and feelings of uncertainty. We know that “our homes, health, and collective safety and futures are on the line. Millions of us don’t know how we are going to pay our rent, mortgage, or utilities on May 1st, yet landlords and banks are expecting payment as if it’s business as usual. It’s not.” –Beyond Recovery – A people’s plan to ensure a healthy, stable, thriving future for us all. Right now we don’t know what the final impacts of COVID will be on our community. But as we anticipate more people becoming homeless – we can also envision a stronger and healthier community. We hope you will reflect on these thoughts by CLUE Boardmember Wayne Mellinger.
The Beloved Community Community by Wayne Mellinger
Spirit of Life,
Transcending Mystery and Wonder,
Ground of Our Being,
That-Which-Proceeds-All-Naming,
Be present with us now as we contemplate
How best to bring healing and justice to the world
And inspire us with a vision borne of compassion,
Where the bounty of the Earth is revered,
Where no one goes hungry or unhoused,
Where the weak are protected and the innocent are safeguarded,
And where the riches of creation are shared.
May all souls find their true purpose and become whole,
allowing who we are to inform what we do.
May we come to learn that it is often through our darkest nights
That we discover the glimmers of light that will guide our days.
May our suffering allow us to become wounded healers
With the gift of empathy to sustain our acts of compassion.
When we bear witness to social injustices and that which should not exist,
Let us find the courage to publicly speak our truth to those in power
Demanding changes in institutions and practices that inflict harm upon our neighbors.
Let us re-commit to building the Beloved Community.
May it be so. Blessed Be and Amen.
Homelessness, Housing and COVID
“People experiencing homelessness are uniquely vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and to experiencing harsher effects of the virus. These effects disproportionately impact people of color.” -National Alliance To End Homelessness
New Funding and Programs
Here in Santa Barbara County we have seen new CARES Act and State funds that have allowed new Prevention, Non-Congregant (Hotel) and Rapid Re-Housing programs to be developed. Some of these funds are distributed through the Home For Good Santa Barbara County Coordinated Entry System while other funds are being distributed through the United Way of Santa Barbara County. The 805 Undocufund is providing cirtical assistance to the local undocumented immigrant individuals and families who are excluded from federally funded safety net programs. Many of these individuals and families have been economically impacted by the loss of their homes, wages. And the impacts have included the various disasters in our community like wildfires, mudslides and COVID. The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is providing critical legal assistance to tenants facing eviction. There is also a newer group called the Santa Barbara Tenants Council that is providing online Zoom Meetings to educate tenants about protections.
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It is unclear if we will see significant increases of in homelessness without ongoing Prevention funding and strong tenant protections coupled with Affordable Housing for people who do become homeless.
Learn More
We hope you will join us for a League of Women Voters Online Forum on Wednesday, October 21 from 12:00-1:30pm on “COVID in Santa Barbara County Now and Beyond Recovery.” The webinar information will be posted on https://my.lwv.org/california/santa-barbara.
