SB ACT'S LATEST 'TAKE ACTION' MEETING: MORE HAND-WRINGING, LESS HOUSING

Santa Barbara's tireless 'homelessness industrial complex' is at it again, gathering for another round of what Noozhawk dutifully calls 'Take Action to Prevent Homelessness' meetings. Translation: more talking points, more powerpoint slides, and zero actual new housing for the region's burgeoning unhoused population. Apparently, the secret to solving anything in our fair county is to schedule a panel, invite 'local partners' (read: anyone with a non-profit and a grant application), and then drone on about 'changes in federal policy.' Because when you're sleeping in a park, what you really need is an update on Section 8 nuances from a bureaucrat.

One has to admire the sheer stamina of these organizations. They've mastered the art of perpetual motion without ever actually moving anywhere. Each year, we get new 'strategies,' new 'initiatives,' and a predictably larger 'homeless count.' It’s almost as if the goal isn't to solve the problem, but to ensure there’s always a problem to solve, thus guaranteeing continued funding for the 'solvers.' And why fuss with pesky things like actually building affordable housing when you can just host another seminar?

Perhaps instead of discussing federal policy changes, these 'local partners' could discuss local policy changes – like, for example, making it easier to build homes without navigating a labyrinth of fees, regulations, and perpetually aggrieved neighbors. But that sort of pragmatic talk might interrupt the funding cycle. So, while our 'experts' deliberate, the number of tents grows, the public safety issues mount, and conservative taxpayers are once again left footing the bill for endless, fruitless 'dialogue.' It's a miracle how much 'action' can be taken without anything actually getting done.