As a part of the Turner Foundation's on-going mission to empower the "least-of-these", we are excited to announce our partnership with "Common Ground". Common Ground is an organization determined to end homelessness by focusing on a "housing-first" model, proven successful in cities with major at-risk Homeless populations such as New York and Los Angeles.

The organization's own words say what many have thought: 'Since the issue of homelessness appeared in the mid-1980s, many individuals and jurisdictions have experienced compassion fatigue around this issue. . . As daunting as it may seem, solving chronic homelessness is unquestionably within our grasp. The 100,000 Homes Campaign is designed to fundamentally alter our response to chronic homelessness by giving communities concrete tools and connecting the change agents with one another so no one has to innovate alone" - from the Common Ground 100,000 Homes Playbook

Santa Barbara has become another community participating in this powerful movement, which aims to house 100,000 of the nation's most vulnerable homeless by July 2013. On February 27th- March 4th, over 450 volunteers hit the streets to provide a vulnerability index by asking our friends-without-homes a few vital questions for assessing their needs. Based on this information, housing will be distributed to those who need it the most and communities will work together to break the cycle of anonymity and relapse.

The Common Ground Briefing, releasing the data discovered during registry week, will be May 9, at 11 a.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church 2901 Nojoqui Ave. Los Olivos, CA. City officials, volunteers, press and everyone connected with Common Ground Santa Barbara will be there to hear the news and discuss the next step.

Talk to your church, your businesses, your city council members and ask them to consider getting involved. Want to be involved yourself? We need all the hands we can get to surround our newly-housed individuals. Please e-mail Lauren at the Turner Foundation to find out the ways you can help.

To find out more about the campaign itself and the statistic success of the housing-first model, visit the 100,000 Homes website. To contribute financially, click "Donate Now" on the Turner Foundation home page and make sure and put in the memo, "Common Ground".

Please visit the website for the local chapter of Common Ground. Help us make homelessness in Santa Barbara history!