Casa Esperanza truly is a house of hope

12/25/05

BARNEY BRANTINGHAM

You might call it a familiar Christmas story.

A young woman expecting a child found herself homeless in a strange city.

She was frightened and desperate, with nowhere to go. But luckily for her, there was room at the inn.

Cathy, 20, moved to Santa Barbara from a nearby farming town with her husband. But unknown to her, he was selling drugs.

"She was shocked and heartbroken when he was arrested and jailed," according to Michael Foley, executive director of Casa Esperanza homeless shelter.

Cathy, a former foster child, has no family or friends to turn to, here or back home, Foley said.

Unable to pay the rent and finding that she was pregnant, "Cathy was afraid and lost, with nowhere to go," Foley said. Casa Esperanza took her in.

Contrary to popular belief, Casa isn't just a one-stop overnight place for a warm meal and a bed.

"Our dedicated staff helped Cathy find a job, save her money and move into safe and secure housing," Foley said.

Now Cathy's baby boy has been born, and they have moved to Transition House family shelter and are receiving daytime assistance at Casa.

"Child care assistance is already in place, enabling Cathy to continue building her career and rebuilding her life," Foley said.

But all 30 Casa beds for women are full and the shelter has had to turn women back to the streets. Ironically, he said, at this time of year, "there is no room at the inn."

To make matters worse, "We have been inundated with families this week because Transition House has 20 fewer beds because it is rebuilding its center," Foley told me.

The good news is that "by the end of this year nearly 200 of our clients will (have found) jobs and an equal number will be living in permanent housing. Another 1,400 will (have received) shelter, counseling, medical support and inspiration they need to create a better life."

Sadly, I am sure that too many will be unable to break the chains of alcoholism, mental illness and other problems without far more help. Our nation hasn't found room for them in its inn and its heart.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to Casa Esperanza at P.O. Box 24116, Santa Barbara, 93121.

*ÊNo room: Remember that Swedish exchange student for whom local sponsors were seeking a home for the rest of his year at Santa Barbara High? Well, he has to leave town because no one will take him in.

"People are willing to house foreign students, especially college students, because they can pay rent," I was told. But, due to the high rents, "people feel they cannot house a student for free when they can make money from a spare room or cottage," someone close to the situation said.

But a Rancho Cucamonga family with five sons "was excited" to take him in, even bought him a ticket for the Rose Parade, she said. Unfortunately, he'll have to change schools.

*ÊNot even coal?: Something new in the way of cardboard panhandling signs in the 700 block of State Street, held by a young guy on a bench: "I'm Getting Nothing for Christmas."

*ÊSpeaking of which: When granddaughter Natasha was a wee child, I joked that in the olden days of my youth parents threatened that misbehaving children would only find lumps of coal under the tree instead of gifts. Asked Natasha: "What's coal?"

*ÊHe's never forgotten: Harry Heron, former Santa Barbara City Council member, is 93 but has never forgotten how his involvement with the Flint, Mich., Salvation Army band helped keep him off the streets as a kid and on the straight and narrow after his mother died.

Heron, a retired Realtor, is bringing the Salvation Army band here for a concert Friday at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, where he is a member. The band is here for the Rose Parade, according to Harry's son, Ed, also a Realtor.

Barney Brantingham's column appears Wednesdays through Sundays. You can reach him at 564-5105 or by e-mail at bbrantingham@newspress.com.