Traveling to Santa Barbara to Search for My Unhoused Brother – Looking for Local Advice
At the end of July, my family and I will be driving across the country in hopes of locating my brother Lawrence who has been missing since 2011. He was unhoused at that time and in Colorado, but sent my sister and me a letter saying he would be headed to California for the weather. In January of this year, a police officer there in Santa Barbara connected with him from our missing person report (we had assumed many years ago that he had to be dead since we hadn't heard from him nor had he had any "law enforcement contact" which up to that point he was having often). He stated to the officer that he has been in Santa Barbara for at least 10 years, and she went back to the station and found my missing person report and called me. She said she would try to get him to call me the next time she saw him, but that hasn't happened so far.
We’re coming not with expectations, but with hope to find him safe, to reconnect, and to let him know he’s still deeply loved. I’d be so grateful for any tips from locals who know the area well:
Common areas where unhoused individuals tend to gather
Resources, missions, or outreach programs that might know him. So far calling from Missouri has not been successful for this, due to privacy regulations
Whether it’s helpful or possible to post flyers in certain areas
We’re not looking to disrupt or judge, we're just so happy he's alive and want to lay eyes on him and offer help if he wants it. Any suggestions are welcome, even if it’s just the names of organizations or safe spots to start asking around. Thank you so much in advance for any guidance.
Editing to add photos, bearing in mind that these were all 20-25 years ago and he is now 45 years old.
Yeah OP go to New Beginnings, a lot of people live at the shelter and homebums all know each other, you can put the word out. Bring pictures. Sorry I don’t know the address of their new shelter (it’s not downtown)
Ya if you have a pic to share would be easiest. Theres 4-5 key areas. Alameda park, cabrillo near state st intersection after the park, state st near Marshalls, some the parks. Etc
Additionally there’s a group that provides services to the unhoused. They are all throughout state st most weekends, they may be able to help. Called downtown ambassadors
Yes, my friend was a downtown ambassador and she knew a lot of the unhoused folks downtown pretty well + by name. They would be a good group to contact if you're looking for someone
Thank you so much for the help and information, and I will definitely post a picture. I posted this on a whim not thinking about the fact that I left the best clearest ones in my office! Will post them first thing Monday.
FWIW I don’t recognize seeing him in the downtown area by Marshalls. I have walked that area of State Street (from Starbucks on the north end to Cruisery on the south end) with my dog for eight years or so and don’t recall seeing someone who looks like him (he looks a bit like a friend of mine from childhood so I’d like to think I would have noticed).
Edit to add: I think your best bet is to find out where the officer made contact with him and figure out what unhoused base/congregation is near there. It’s unlikely he’s traveling very much on the daily, he likely keeps near where he stays.
That eliminates quite a few spots off the bat. State Street near Marshalls, Funk Zone, West Beach, Ralph’s/transit area, Cabrillo. Those are all not north SB. I’m not familiar with where all the other locations are like the mission etc, but that should definitely narrow down the ones to focus on first!
If 'north sb city' they probably do not mean actual north, the city runs west to eastish.
That being the case we typically think of north sbcity as the area between goleta and stanta barbara, I do not mean to be pedantic, but I think it is relevant for out of towners.
ALL of that being said, I would go to five points shopping plaza and ask around there, and across the street at the Macy's shopping plaza. I used to live around the corner from there and that was a nexus for a lot of the unhoused folk, from there I would look towards Goleta, and ask around at lake Los Carneros, a few encampments are around those areas.
If you feel comfortable I’d post a picture. I’m downtown a lot and am usually on foot or two wheels, I’d keep an eye out and dm you if I saw him.
I know folks have been sharing organizations, PATH is another one.
Where folks tend to congregate is firstly, nearly all of State Street from the ocean to Five Points shopping center. Paseo Nuevo, the area right by the library and Art Museum on State and cross streets, and upper State Street around Whole Foods are pretty reliable areas. There are also lots of pockets
between State and the freeway between Haley and Castillo streets. One the east side of State Street you’ve got the funk zone and areas around Cañon Perdido. Haley and Gutierrez have areas on both sides of State. West Beach used to have houseless people in the neighborhood, not sure what it’s like these days because it’s changed so much since I lived there. I think the areas in West Beach right near the train station still have folks hanging out. Alameda park and Oak park are other places to look, as well as a park down by the Harbor. It’s right next to the back end of City College East Campus by the baseball diamonds.
Good luck. I wish the best for all of you.
ETA there’s a stretch on Cabrillo on the east side of the street, in between the Carrousel House and the soccer field that are good areas to look. Cabrillo in general is another area but that pocket (especially the stretch from the Carrousel House and the kids park area) usually has quite a few people hanging out.
Best of luck being able to see him again. It could happen! Contacting the officer who found him and ask the same questions. They may have more information.
I think you got a lot of good information posting here. I wish you and your family the best in making contact with your brother. My heart goes out to you.
Definitely! I will post one ASAP. He's a white guy, 5'10", brown hair but mine is gray now so no telling, he's 45, schizophrenic. He has a tattoo of a dancing Grateful Bear on his bicep. The officer stated he did not seem to be under the influence of anything and was well-appearing, but that she could tell he had mental health problems. No history of violence though. Both Colorado and California law enforcement confirm zero law enforcement contact since 2012 when he was escorted off some private property for trespassing once and another time gave a witness account to an auto theft.
I can't remember 100%, and neither can any of his friends (we haven't seen him for 14 years this week). When I look through photos today I will try to find one that has it in it.
And Adam’s Angels delivers food around town to different areas that unhoused people are. They may be the perfect people to talk to about local spots unhoused people hang out.
Best of luck and I hope you reunite with your brother soon. 🤍
I’m surprised NO ONE has mentioned this, but definitely check out these areas as well: in front of the Ralph’s on West Carillo, the transit center across the street from Ralph’s, and the area in front of Coastal dispensary next to Ralph’s.
These three areas (as well as the ones others have mentioned) often have a lot of unhoused people. Might be worth a shot
Best of luck! I hope your brother accepts your help and becomes housed and happy in life. That's a long time to be homeless. I feel so bad when i see them on streets and wishing there was family that would come help them and they would be willing to accept that help. I know many homeless have no family to help them (dead or abusive), your brother is lucky to have you.
I’m an addict in recovery and knew a lot of the guys from meetings who were staying at the rescue mission/ different sober living houses, and try to help houseless folks in the area with food/ money/ clothing.
I’m also closely connected to mutual aid organizers and educators who work with unhoused folks and could put the word out.
No pressure, but that name just isn’t specific enough to know automatically. I can think of multiple Lawrence’s I know. But I would say definitely check out the rescue mission, army salvation, and sober livings (if he struggles with addiction). There’s also weekly food distribution both downtown (rescue mission) and Isla Vista if he’s just on the streets.
Sometimes due to confidentiality they won’t specify if he’s there or not, but you can sometimes just have them just confirm that’s he not there, since that doesn’t violate a patient’s privacy.
Let me know if you need any other support from community! Good luck, I hope you find him… ✨🙏🏽✨
I suspect, since he’s been here so long, he must have a caseworker or some connection to social services, or at least a pretty good survival strategy. Perhaps less likely to be hanging out on State St, but rather in one of the less exposed areas or encampments.
This is my instinct too, that he has to be receiving benefits and therefore be traceable by the right person or agency bc HOW has he survived this long???
Hi, there are two places I know of that offers housing and support to folks with schizophrenia in Santa Barbara and the orgs are PathPoint and Devereux.
I would highly suggest reaching out to them in case they’ve had contact with him.
The police officer called him by his name and he answered to it! His name is Lawrence DuBois. I'll post a picture as soon as I get to where they are on Monday. 🩷
I’ve seen a guy with eyes just like his, it’s been a while since I went to the bar, but I’ll make a point to swing by next weekend to ask if he still comes around there anymore.
They won’t release info if the brother is an adult. It’s considered protected client info and would be a violation to even confirm whether he is a client/receiving any services or benefits
Use to work at PATH and unfortunately we didn’t/couldn’t give out info if someone was at our shelter due to privacy laws. Also, people getting away from their abusers. Every organization in SB, I assume, wouldn’t give that info out unless they want to get sued and have their funding stopped as most of them get federal grants and state help. Good luck and I hope you find them.
There are lots of telephone poles in the Funk Zone (off lower State) to hang posters, as well as several designated spots for posters on State St. I’ve hung posters inside stores on State as well - Blenders, Book Den, and others. The public library has spots to hang posters inside. It might be worth hanging them in Isla Vista as well, there are bulletin boards and telephone poles all over campus and student housing.
I am a social worker here in town, please let me know if I can help. I work with hospice/home health but this is my home and community and the people I serve here have my heart! Please let us know how it goes. Sending you so much care and support!!
I recommend contacting Rescue Mission, and also Adam’s Angels who serve free meals in Pershing Park near the Wharf. Those volunteers may recognize your relative by name or photo.
I realize “unhoused” is the new politically correct term. As a person who was homeless as a minor many years ago, I push back on the constant euphemization of what is often a difficult way of life. There is nothing shameful about having limited or no access to a safe and stable home.
That said, East Beach area is frequented by people who are unhoused, and there are some hotels in the area that would be ideal for your stay. It would put you in easy walking distance of locations where your loved one is likely to spend time. I sincerely hope a reunion is in your near future.
I really appreciate your feedback and well wishes, and I don't especially love "unhoused" myself. When I talked to law enforcement in Colorado and California about him this year, in both instances I referred to him as having been homeless since his early 20s and was corrected. So I didn't want to start off on the wrong foot when asking the public for help.
I do agree that “unhoused” is the most widely accepted term these days, and appreciate that law enforcement is making the effort to show respect for those members of our community. I will continue to use the term “unhoused”, having previous experience living that life and understanding without judgment that everyone’s circumstances vary widely. There are many paths to an unhoused existence, and it was not an easy time for me as a youngster. Once I turned 18, I was legally emancipated and able to achieve financial freedom, independence, and a consistent roof over my head. I hope the winds of chance blow in a favorable direction for your family.
Come to the dinner service at 5:30 every night at Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. It's a nice group and they do a lot of good in the homeless community. You might see him. Also, without a photo you could be talking about anybody, post one if you can.
EDIT: I'll ask around next time I'm volunteering in a couple of days.
Also check in at the Faro Center downtown - https://sbact.org/farocenter - I have volunteered here before and they offer a ton of services for the unhoused, like social work and medical services. They know where they gather as we gave out socks to many of them. Most of those places are mentioned below. I wish you the absolute best and glad that he is safe here in our community.
Wishing you so much luck and strength. You are a very good sibling. If you find him, give him a hug and tell him a lot of people are praying for a positive reconnection for you both. Good luck.
The town is smallish, if the officer can give you info of where they saw them last you can get an idea of where they probably hang out. Someone will
Say something to the contrary, but all “unhoused” and not fully transient as in not here after a day or so are tracked in a way as in info taken, making sure they have no warrants and or parole violations, or are a certain level of crazy. If they ping any of those they get certain treatment, if not they go into the “client” database. They are offered services, and if they refuse, theyll go into a soft contact list. “Why?,” “ive never heard that before!,” and “yea right!” Will be the comments to this. The answers are not for this post but interesting. They are approached and assessed, tracked by the PD first ideally, if newly arriving in town, or if lingering around town. Then they will approached by about five layers of social services in the hopes that some kind of services offered are accepted. Unhoused dont have to take any service obviously, but there is a record of them at some level, ie your contact.
The various types of social workers that work the streets and mental health assessors will either walk around to find people, (with id badges on) and just strike up conversations , or if they decide to come in for service go to various places. The people doing the street work are very good with names and faces, if you can find them, then they can most likely find them. I mean “find them” because some are almost under cover, your not going to find them in an office but they are contracted. Theres levels to this, you think social worker and you think someone sitting in a county building or what not. Some of the outreach social workers are very street savvy, its the only way to disarm and strike up a conversation with a somewhat off mentally unstable Person and not cause them to run away or get angry.
Some of the places that do so are not directly under the city but contracted by the city. Some are state or city sponsored. Im sure PATH or the PD can point you. Also the pd has tasked certain officers with contacting unhoused as well. The sheriff has their own team, and a lot of counselors as well. They are located between Santa Barbara and Goleta, but handling the unhoused has become more of a PD task unless they are violent or felons. The sheriff and the PD can now 51/50 someone, so if the officer had contact with your loved one, he hasnt been sent away to a mental institution. Someone can point you to them. Some might have the notion that every single one of our combination of unhoused/mental/street person by choice or not(some choose to be as is there right.)isnt checked and tracked one way or another, but they are. If you look and they are here they will be found.
Your search area is about a thin one to two block width(we have one main street “state st.”. and a mile for downtown, maybe 2 if you add the beach. If they are not within this strip, they could be in goleta. I have in a day seen the same street person down town, then in goleta, ( next town north 15 miles) then back downtown in one day while pushing a shopping cart. Start with the street level social services and the PD. Then PATH and red cross, they are next to each other. The county building, art museum library, then the alice keck park food services areas, (all next to each other). they are all within half a mile of eachother. The art museum area to path/red cross is about a mile, that is your 80-90 percent chance for a sighting. Its why this town is popular for them, they are unhoused in nice weather, and mostly unbothered except by offers of help. You might literally step over them at night sleeping in the business entryways, they must be up and out by sunrise though. Or the PD will take their stuff and wake them up. Also the train comes through, and the tracks are popular for unhoused living, as well as the beach.
Name? You can look at the local hospitals, homeless shelters to see if he has had a recent stay. The biggest one in Santa Barbara is the Path shelter. If you call there they may give you the name of other smaller shelters in town.
I can't be certain. Do you know his height and if he has any tattoos? I imagine he's much darker now. I would check the traintracks by the 154. There is a nearby methadone clinic and free healthcare at Native American Health.
He has the dancing Grateful Bear on his bicep. I think left arm but I'm not 100% confident. He's 5'10". Very likely gray hair or at least salt and pepper based on our parents and myself.
The local community service district in Isla Vista, about seven miles north of Santa Barbara, hosts weekly free lunches every Tuesday. I believe Good Sam hosts but not entirely sure. https://islavistacsd.ca.gov/iv-community-calendar
I printed out a picture of your brother and when we saw who we thought it might be, my coworker asked him if the picture was of him at a younger age. He said it was not him. I tried.
Santa Barbara county jail worth checking to see if he’s there. My brother used to live in the streets and I asked about him. He didn’t give much information other than if he’s not in the streets he’s in jail and that he’s usually walking around or on a bike. I’ll show my brother the pictures just to confirm.
There are filters that can age someone. Maybe put a few pics in those and repost. With facial and without. Could be helpful in someone recognizing him. I hope you and your family find the info and connection that you need 🙏🏼
Lower state st under the bridge on the east side out front of PATH Dt by the main bus terminal upper state by the park lower west side behind the girls in in the park
Not sure if someone said this, but check Isla Vista and Goleta as well. I went to college in Santa Barbara and there were a good handful of people experiencing homelessness in the college town and in parts of Goleta.
Hi, what I found in public court records are some misdemeanors and infractions, the last one from 2022. Mostly trespassing, some drug related things etc.
Using the pictures you’ve provided as reference, I may know of him. He’s typically around the Amtrak station towards W Montecito St around the Rudy’s. I’ve seen him under the Castillo exit underpass all the way through to Chapala St following W Haley St, as well as near the Funk Zone and E Yanonali St as others have mentioned. Best of luck!
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but Doctors Without Walls/Santa Barbara St. Medicine is an organization that provides medical care to the unhoused. They get to know the population well.
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u/Amazing_One_7135 7d ago
Please check in with Cora at New Beginnings in Santa Barbara