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Your extra sleeping bag could help those who are homeless keep warm this winter

Jon Tyson
/
Unsplash

More than 1900 people are experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara County.

With colder weather here, there’s a drive to help those experiencing homelessness to keep warm this winter.

The Santa Barbara County’s public defenders’ office is holding a drive to collect sleeping bags and other warm items to distribute to those in need.

"Many of our public defender clients are experiencing homelessness and many are unhoused," Erica Bottorff, who is is with the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s office, told KCLU.

Bottorff says that while long term solutions are needed, in the short term, keeping people warm is a priority.

"Obviously the longer term goal is to help people find permanent housing. In the meantime we want to make sure that they're staying warm during the freezing winter months," said Bottorff.

The Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Offices are accepting donations until December 12.

They are located at 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara or 312 East Cook Street, Building A, Santa Maria.

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award for three consecutive years in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Since joining the station she's also won 11 Golden Mike Awards, 8 Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Awards, 4 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and three Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence in Writing, Diversity and Use of Sound.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded by Prince Philip for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for twelve years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.