Transition House Auxiliary's
13th Annual Mad Hatter Luncheon
"Anything Goes"
From Scene and Heard e-Magazine, April 23, 2010
The luncheon was held at the Four Seasons
Biltmore Hotel's Loggia Ballroom. The event attracted a wonderful group of
Transition House supporters and it is always a reason for the ladies to show off
their hats to their friends while helping a great cause. The ambiance of fun and
enjoyment was felt throughout the event. Transition House President
Kathryn Dinkin, Luncheon Chairs Elisabeth Smith and Soosan
Marshall and the entire Auxiliary created an event to remember.
In an effort to decrease family homelessness and welfare
dependence for the last 25 years, Transition House has provided food, shelter
and services to Santa Barbara's families in need. Transition House helps
families find ways to alleviate their poverty. Staff and volunteers work with
them to discover, and sometimes create, realistic avenues to meet the goal of
safe and affordable housing, a good and meaningful job that pays a decent living
wage, and access to high quality childcare that is within the family's means.
While working toward these goals, Transition House provides family centered
support through strong case management and supportive services. The program
Transition House has conceived and implemented is having remarkable results. On
average, 60% return to permanent housing with the economic means to sustain
it.
Transition House was started by volunteers in the community
who took personal responsibility for their neighbors in need. Volunteers
continue to do meaningful and essential work at Transition House. 1,200
volunteers account for 25% of agency resources. Transition House has adopted a
philosophy to explain the underlying causes of family homelessness. Using that
philosophy as a basis, a strategy has evolved to solve homelessness for capable
and motivated families, and to end their reliance on public assistance.
The philosophy is that the root cause of family homelessness
is poverty. There may be other contributing factors, but underlying it all is
poverty.
Luncheon Chairs Elisabeth Smith and Soosan Marshall
Invitation Chair Diane White, Luncheon Chairs Elisabeth
Smith and Soosan Marshall, and Decoration Chair Irene
Chambers
Jane Litchfeild, Mavis Mayne, Calla Gold and Ellen
Lilley
Ellen Lilley
Mimi Veyna & Pam
Webber
sceneandheardsb@aol.com
