July 18 - Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness
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L to R: Jeff Shaffer and Chuck Flacks, C3H, with Rotary Santa Maria South club president Georgia Shore
C3H Shares Its Vision with Rotary Club Members
On Monday, July 18th, Chuck Flacks, Executive Director, and Jeff Shaffer, Community Coordinator of the Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness (C3H) presented an informative talk on countywide coordination of services to individuals in our area who are without housing. C3H is a program of the United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, which serves as fiscal agent for the organization. C3H is funded primarily by Santa Barbara County, countywide cities, Cottage and Marian hospitals, with other funding sought from nonprofits and the private sector. The main purpose of the organization is to (1) house the homeless and (2) minimize the impacts of homelessness on our communities. C3H is not a direct service provider, but rather coordinates the services and programs for others on behalf of Santa Barbara County homeless individuals.
Their purpose is to identify the homeless residents of the county by name, know their needs and their desires, and find them the appropriate services. C3H performs a survey of homeless individuals every two years, which may offer club members an opportunity to provide voluntary outreach and interview support. While the latest survey identified 1500 homeless in the county, it is estimated that the true number is three or four times greater. C3H is working to have Care & Referral Centers where caseworkers would be able to work with the chronically homeless to reduce “harm” and assist with information and referral. The organization is planning the first of these centers to be in Santa Maria.