The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
On October 26 we went to the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, a Christian based organization that helps people through different programs, but we wanted to find out information about the work they do and how they help homeless people. We were received by very kind people that were willing to help us. We got an interview with Jill Wallerstedt, who is the Homeless Guest Services Supervisor in this institution.
Jill Wallerstedt
Jill Wallerstedt is a very nice person and we could perceive that since the first time we met her. She started working with homeless people six years ago through her church. Through the experience with her church, she worked with people on the streets in Isla Vista, and that was the moment when she started to love was she does now. When the church stopped, the experiences that she lived helping people moved her to go back to the City College and got her Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate. Nowadays, Jill is in charge of the Homeless Guest Services program at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, and she says that she has a wonderful team of people that is dedicated to help people in homeless
conditions.
conditions.
Emergency Shelter
Jill describes the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission as an emergency and short term shelter that has many ways to help homeless people. She says that anyone can come to the center and have a dinner, a bed, a shower and breakfast, but they are only open from 6 PM to 6AM. The center counts with 28 beds for women and 105 for men. They provide a service to spend the night and there is not charge for it. Also, they offer clothing and give referrals. If people come in a medical care, have to attend parking tickets, or they have some problem, they can connect them with people in the community that know how to fix those problems.
Events
Besides those activities, Jill emphasizes four mayor events during the year. On 4 of July, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, they make a big feast and many people come for a wonderful dinner. They are special dinners because instead of serving the food like cafeteria style, they set up tables family style that makes the moment very beautiful. On Independence Day they show movies, do raffles with good prices, have music and good games to play, and people have fun.
Donations
Jill Wallerstedt told us interesting things about the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. It is an organization that is supported by donations, and they receive donations, clothing and food from the public. Also, people can volunteer serving dinner. They help people from different countries, so bilingual volunteers are a big help in the center. There are many stereotypes about homeless people, but she says that every night they see them like friends coming into dinner because they are not bringing the street’s troubles in.
"Spread the Message"
It was very nice to know that Jill Wallerstedt has read The Soloist, but it was more interesting that she agrees with us that the message to be spread from the book is that it is very important to recognize the person before the condition, and that is something that Steve Lopez learned. He learned that Nathaniel was not a mentally ill musician, but a musician with mental illness. If we think on those words we can understand that there is a big difference when we start treating homeless people like human beings and get rid of any stereotype.
Our visit to the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission and specially our conversation with Jill Wallerstedt open our mind to a world where people are helping people. It is very special that there exist institutions and people dedicated to rebuild broken lives.
We would like to thank Jill for the information she provided us, and at the same time we want to say that they are doing an enormous work giving to the people a second chance.
God bless you!
We would like to thank Jill for the information she provided us, and at the same time we want to say that they are doing an enormous work giving to the people a second chance.
God bless you!