Emergency - Disaster Long Term Services

Clients Served in 2011: 156
Budget to Support Needs for 1 Year is $200 a person

We have learned what services are needed during times of crisis and can respond immediately because of our on-going Distribution Facility. We offer the most effective long-term recovery service in Santa Barbara County and are prepared to help people over a two year period when they have lost their homes.

First responders, area churches, and non-profits refer qualified disaster clients to the Unity Shoppe for clothing, food supplies, personal care items, household goods and furniture to help with immediate needs.

Disaster Client Needs

A local non-profit referred a fire client to the Unity Shoppe for assistance. She was at work when the fire destroyed her home, and she lost everything except the clothes she had on that day. She was under-insured and needed to wait for her paperwork to be processed. She entered the "free store" and burst into tears! When asked if she was all right — she said,

"This is so nice, just like a real store! Everything is hanging by size and it is so clean, and there is even a grocery store! So many people are really trying to help me and everywhere I go they continue to give me bags of things I don't need! I don't want to hurt their feelings but it is too much too fast. After digging in the ruins of my home and dealing with all the details, I can't handle a lot of things right now. I would much prefer being able to get what I really need as I discover what that is! Since you are open and available over the long term — it's perfect for my needs."

She shopped many times over a period of 18 months. First for clothes and then for temporary furniture for rented apartments. She took only what was needed. This helped her save her limited insurance money to rebuild her small home.

Download Emergency - Long-Term Disaster Services Flyer [PDF]