Our Community Living Advocate in Santa Barbara has worked with a consumer since 2017. He has been homeless since that time, sometimes sleeping on a couch at a friend’s apartment, sometimes sleeping in his car or just on the street. In 2017 we helped him sign up for all the waiting lists for subsidized housing that he was eligible for. We explained that the wait is typically several years long. We always let him know when a new opportunity for affordable housing came up. Finally in March of 2021 the consumer had reached the top of the City of Santa Barbara Housing Authority section 8 waiting list and received a voucher. This was a major milestone but the housing market in Santa Barbara is currently extremely tight, meaning there are very few apartments available that are under the current housing standard of $2015 for a 1-bedroom apartment. The ACC made multiple housing referrals from rental lists. Then the consumer on his own found a landlord who was willing to accept his voucher. Unfortunately, the Housing Authority turned it down because it did not meet their criteria. By this point, two months had passed and the Housing Authority gave him a 2-month extension. The ACC made more housing referrals. Then the consumer received a call that there was an opening at the Bradley Studios, a property built by the Housing Authority. The consumer was familiar with the property and was more than happy to accept the offer. He moved into the apartment in late June and is now more or less settled. He finally has stability in his life and can take care of several pressing health issues that require him to have secure housing for recovery. It has made a huge difference in his life.
Voices & Stories A Housing Consumer Success Story
By Petra Lowen, Community Living Advocate • Posted on August 30, 2021
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[id] => 10
[date] => 2022-10-19
[status] => Active
[new] =>
[title] => How do you bounce back?
[author] => Paige Masson
[article] => When your disability decides to transform into a tornado and tear through your safety net, how do you bounce back?
Sometimes this tornado can be physically seen by others. Other times, it manifests as verbal warfare within the mind. In my case, having Bipolar Disorder is mostly invisible. The times it shows up physically though, it's like a storm goes on non-stop for weeks. When those weeks are over, it is clean-up time but...
Where do I begin? Have I done a well enough job at putting speed bumps on my road?
Did I utilize my toolbox to the best of my ability?
Mental health is a tricky one. We all experience the good and the bad days. People with Bipolar Disorder experience very intense mood changes. In my case, it took over three weeks to recover from a depressive episode. My room got messy. I missed some days of work. Eating became difficult. Sleeping was the only time I felt okay. I tried to explain the chaos and the pain to the people around me but it felt like I was speaking a foreign language. Regardless of the support and the love my safety net tried to provide, I felt alone and misunderstood.
If this feeling feels familiar to you, let me assure you that you are not alone. Let me also assure you that there is hope. Being misunderstood can be alleviated with proper education. After making it through the most recent depressive episodes, I learned a few things about myself.
1. I am resilient beyond comprehension. Having a disability can make someone feel otherwise but the fact that we can rise above its definition and stigmas is to be admired.
2. Happiness can be conserved within my mind and heart. Holding on to the excitement, hope, and love can help carry the weight during dark times.
3. Patience truly is a virtue. Cleaning up the tornado's mess allows your resilient spirit to shine through. The key to cleaning up the mess is patience.
If you feel alone, please remember that you are not alone. Somebody does care even if that somebody is you. Making it through each day one foot at a time can be just enough to remind yourself that brighter days are ahead, even if they are just existing in your consciousness or dreams for the time being. .jpg)
A doodle by Paige Masson of a woman in a blue dress with a pink belt and yellow hair with thoughts shaped like flowers flowing from the top of her head. On one side of her is "Mania," colored in yellow and reflecting sunshine tornadoes. On the other side, blue for "Depression" with black tornadoes and blue background. Always split in half by the two emotions."
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[id] => 16
[date] => 2021-02-03
[status] => Active
[new] =>
[title] => Consumer shares how receiving a Chromebook has changed her life
[author] => Anonymous
[article] => The COVID-19 Pandemic has shifted most services, appointments, and social gatherings to take place virtually, and having access to a computer has become more important than ever. In the above video, one of our consumers talks about how essential having access to a computer is for her and how receiving a Chromebook through ACC has benefitted her.
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[2] => Array
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[id] => 24
[date] => 2021-02-24
[status] => Active
[new] =>
[title] => Connection to Technology is Essential
[author] => Anonymous
[article] =>
)
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