What Street Health Outreach Is About
Street Health Outreach is a UCSB student organization dedicated to providing outreach services to the homeless community in Isla Vista and neighboring Santa Barbara.
Saturday and Sunday Morning Rounds
Every Saturday and Sunday morning, a team of around 4 to 5 SHO members meet in Isla Vista to do the weekly outreach rounds for the homeless living in Anisq'Oyo' Park. The team takes out an orange backpack containing hospitality items such as: socks, gloves, granola bars, trail mix, cereal, fruit cups, juice drinks, and water bottles, to hand out to the homeless individuals. These items are important for the homeless community but the vital part of Street Health Outreach's work are the relationships formed between SHO members and the population living on the streets. This is the primary outreach tool SHO utilizes to connect the community with the homeless population. By bridging this gap, SHO is able to spread awareness to the community about the situation of the homeless and simply act as a listening ear to those that would otherwise be neglected.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Breakfasts
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday SHO members assist Father John Stephens and other volunteers from St. Athanasius Church in providing breakfast for the homeless population of Isla Vista. The breakfast is held St. Athanasius Church where the food is brought in and served on the back patio. SHO members assist in the set- up, clean- up and service of the meal but spend the majority of the time engaging with the homeless population. This provides a unique opportunity for SHO members to sit down and talk with people in a comfortable and safe environment.
