St. Athanasius Orthodox Church in Isla Vista, CA runs St. Brigid Fellowship, an outreach ministry to homeless men, women and children in our town. Approximately 80 individuals at any one time are homeless in Isla Vista. Some sleep on the streets while others live in cars, vans, garages or other sub-standard housing situations.

St. Brigid Fellowship is a unifying force in Isla Vista for the homeless and other people in trouble. We are a group of people working together to solve homelessness one person at a time. To be homeless is to be nameless, avoided, shunned, blamed, hungry and exposed to the elements. Each visitor to St. Brigid's is know by name, has a place to belong, has friends, acceptance, food, clothing and help getting out of any situations they wish to leave.

We use an incarnational model, meeting people on the streets as Jesus did, addressing immediate needs and starting relationships that can lead out of homelessness. This is not a one-way ministry, us to them. All of us – housed and unhoused - work together to solve our own problems and the problems of others and the community.

Our office is open four mornings a week. We offer a mailing address, a telephone and message service, hygiene supplies, first aid supplies, warm clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, rain gear and other survival supplies. We have a weekly outreach meal on Monday nights, a Bible Study and soup dinner on Thursday nights, and coffee and sandwiches three mornings a week. A County Mental Health Homeless Outreach worker comes two hours a week, and a nearby clinic offers free medical care.

The friendships we make help us to move people out of homelessness, as they are ready. We work with each person to find out what they want for themselves in their life, and how we can to help them attain their goals. We willingly share our contacts – the people and organizations we know that can help in requests as simple as seeing a doctor to as complicated as becoming sober and getting an apartment.

We have placed a number of people in housing, have a few in long-term sobriety situations, have gotten benefits for those with physical and mental disabilities, and sent a number through detox and into treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. We refer to all the other programs available and attempt not to duplicate services. We have working relationships with Casa Esperanza, County Mental Health, the Isla Vista Foot Patrol, the Isla Vista Park and Recreation Department, the Council on Drug and Alcoholism, the Public Health Department, Doctors Without Walls and UCSB's Student Health Outreach Program, among others.

Fr. Jon-Stephen Hedges is the priest in charge of St. Brigid Fellowship. He always has an open door and a warm heart to share. He is also a Sheriff's Chaplain, attends community meetings addressing the needs of the poor and homeless, and serves on a variety of non-profit boards. Jill Wallerstedt coordinates the daily running of St Brigid; she opens the office three mornings a week from 9:00 a.m. until noon and helps coordinate the Monday night dinners and a Thursday night Bible Study and soup dinner at the church. Jennifer Ferraez, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Santa Barbara County Mental Health and a member of St. Athansius, has mental health hours at St. Brigid two hours a week, She attends the outreach meal and serves as a resource for anyone who needs help within the social service and mental health arenas. Carol Ichinose is in charge of our weekly outreach meal. She creates a homey atmosphere and serves home-cooked food free of charge.

If you are ever in out area, please stop by for a visit.

St. Brigid Fellowship
970 Embarcadero Del Mar
Suite E
Isla Vista, CA 93117
(805) 968-8028.