Homeless Problem in Santa Barbara

[sb805er]

How do you solve the homeless problem? Some will argue that shelters and rehabilitation are the solution. But what about the surrounding residents and businesses? Living on the lower eastside of Santa Barbara, the wandering homeless are a daily nuisance. From the panhandling at the gas stations to the loitering in the parks, what can we do?

Even downtown at my work, we have an unwelcome resident who sleeps on the side of our building. Nothing like getting to work on a Monday, opening the side door to almost step in a pile of human poop and then clean up the pack of cigarettes that were smoked along with the tall boys of High gravity. What can we do? Call the police? What will they do? Write a ticket if the the person can be found or take them to jail for a free meal and nap? But it won't stop them from doing it again. Is there a solution to what seems to be a never ending problem?

[yogagirl]

i used to live in SF and it was way worse up there.. I don't think there will ever be a "fix" but it certainly is annoying when they sit right out front our house, practically on our porch, smoking and leaving their trash behind. I want to ask them to go smoke somewhere else but I'm sure that won't go over too well..

[zaycitozheludi]

I think the program: "free food for homeless" doesn't serve well... It has to be free work for food.. They can do cleaning in parks and on roads, because usually they do that mess.. Especially under the bridges. That would help to community and for homeless too, because now body gives me a free meal, we work for that.