Trying Times

Santa Barbara’s 55-year-old Rescue Mission is another local non-profit impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is uniquely challenging to keep essential emergency services intact with appropriate safety measures in place for some of the neediest people in our community,” says president Rolf Geyling.

“We have seen more people coming to us for food and shelter, many of them for the first time. As this crisis continues, we need to be prepared to see more households and individuals needing assistance.

“We are also aware that some of the typical means by which people come into our treatment program – criminal justice and the courts – are also impacted by the COVID crisis, so we have taken all necessary steps to keep our residential population safe and medically clear individuals so they can have access to treatment.”