County Statement on Encampment Resolution Efforts in the Santa Maria Riverbed

Author: Homeless Services Division
Date: 7/26/2024 5:45 PM

County of San Luis Obispo partners with County of Santa Barbara to address Santa Maria Riverbed encampments, providing case management, shelter, and cleanup services.

Both counties have been working together for several months to ensure that this initiative balances a person-centered approach with the meaningful mitigation of concerns related to sanitation, risk of fire, and environmental impacts. This mutual response protocol leverages available resources from both jurisdictions to provide case management services, shelter options, and debris cleanup on a rolling basis.

"I am grateful for this partnership between our two counties as we work together to clean up these problematic encampments. We still have a long way to go, but we now have a clear plan in place to restore order while helping those who have been living in the riverbed to get back on their feet," said Jimmy Paulding, District 4 Supervisor for the County of San Luis Obispo.

Experienced homeless service providers from both San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County have been working with people currently living in the Santa Maria Riverbed since November 2023. Every person that received an official notice on July 22, 2024, to vacate the premises has been offered sheltering or housing options and temporary storage of their personal belonging. The first scheduled cleanup of abandoned items and debris found in the Santa Maria Riverbed began on July 25, 2024.

This project is expected to continue over the next 12 to 18 months as the homeless service providers work to minimize the disruption of each individual's case plan and navigate the limited bed capacity available in the region.