The new operators of the Casa Esperanza homeless shelter on Cacique Street have now had their doors open to winter residents since December 1, but they’ve yet to hit their maximum capacity of 200. The maximum number to date has been 172, said Jessica Wishan, the shelter’s new director. Wishan moved to Santa Barbara 13 months ago from San Diego, where she worked for the Path shelter operation. Path took over the financially troubled Casa Esperanza last year, and the shelter’s name is now officially Santa Barbara Path.
Path has initiated several new admissions policies, the best known being its insistence that guests be sober. Wishan explained the shelter screens residents for sobriety, tuberculosis, and whether they’ve lived in Santa Barbara at least six months. “We’re trying to look out for people who live here who’ve fallen down on their luck,” she said. “If you just got off the Greyhound, we’re going to refer you to some other services.”
The shelter’s sober-only policy was the subject of guerilla theater comment before the county supervisors and Santa Barbara City Council this past Tuesday as longtime homeless advocate —and perennial city council candidate — Bob Hansen objected that people were forced to stay out on the streets if they failed the breathalyzer test administered by Path intake workers. Those who failed, Hansen charged, were forced to stay out at least two days before they could be considered for admission.