> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Positive impact - URL: https://www.smdp.com/positive-impact/ - Published: 2008-03-12T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T18:51:54.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Community, Promenade, #archive-import, Homeless *SM’s Homeless Court making a difference* Homeless Court’s supporters and participants laud program PICO BLVD Anthanette Gibson has no problem calling herself a drunk. That’s what she was just seven months ago before finding sobriety with the help of her case manager at the CLARE Foundation and Judge Bobbi Tillmon of Santa Monica’s Homeless Community Court. Gibson, 43, a life-long Santa Monica resident, was living on the streets after the person she was caring for died. Her days and nights were soon filled with drinking as a way to forget about her plight, leading her to do embarrassing, degrading things when she was intoxicated, such as stripping on the Third Street Promenade. “At least I was a happy drunk,” Gibson said as she sat in a patio outside the Women’s Recovery Home, where clients of CLARE learn how to build self esteem and address the underlying issues that led them to abuse alcohol or drugs. “I didn’t think about anything back then except how I was going to get my next drink,” said Gibson, who was dressed in blue jeans and white T-shirt that read Lucky Chica. “I had become comfortable about being homeless. Now, I wouldn’t dare go back.” Gibson, who had 21 citations before entering the court, credits her success to her support network at CLARE and the tough love she received from Judge Tillmon and all those affiliated with the court, which recently celebrated its first year in existence. “They kept me on track,” said Gibson, who hopes to graduate from the court Friday. “They connected me with CLARE. (The court) gives me an incentive to stay in the program, and for those who may not want to get sober into a program that may change their lives.” ORIGINS OF THE COURT The Homeless Community Court is a pilot program funded by the county of Los Angeles with resources from City Hall and the Public Defender’s Office. The court was established to serve 120 chronically homeless people with open cases for so-called “quality of life crimes — public intoxication and urination, camping — committed in Santa Monica, or those who are already engaged with local service providers but for whom citations and warrants are making it difficult for them to move forward. “It feels great to no longer have to worry about all those tickets,” said a client at St. Joseph Center who did not want to give his name. The client, a white man in his early 60s, recently graduated and had his record expunged, allowing him to put money aside and save up for an apartment. “I would recommend the court for everyone in a similar situation as me,” he said. The client was living in Venice a few years ago when he said he fell victim to gentrifica-tion and was forced to live in his car. That’s when he started to accumulate parking tickets and citations for other minor offenses. His car was eventually towed away, leaving him with nothing but the clothes he had on. “It was very tough and the tickets made it harder,” the client said. “I heard about the court, thought it was a good idea. It was. I’m very happy with it.” As are city and county officials, who gathered on a recent Friday afternoon at the Santa Monica Courthouse to celebrate the court’s success. In attendance were Councilmembers Bob Holbrook and Kevin McKeown, City Attorney Marsha Moutrie, SMPD Deputy Chief Phil Sanchez and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who spoke about the court’s track record. To date, 82 people have participated in the program, nine of which are now in supportive housing, Yaroslavsky said. Two participants were reunited with their families, 16 are now seeking alcohol or substance abuse treatment and another 16 are receiving care for a mental illness. In all, 36 have graduated and had their cases adjudicated. “Some people didn’t want to try it,” County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said of the court. “The upside seemed so great that it was almost criminal not to … and I’m excited about a continued collaboration.” Yaroslavsky, who helped fight for funding to start the court, said he will work to find more money to keep the it going after witnesses the impact it has had on Santa Monica. The county gave City Hall a $458,000 grant to help pay for 12 months of supportive services and housing for court participants. Going into it, no one knew if the court would be successful. Critics claimed that it offered no real punishment for failing to comply given overcrowding at the county jail, forcing the sheriff to release nonviolent offenders early, some within hours of being sentenced. Some participants have relapsed while a very small number have failed to participate, city officials said, however, those who have stuck with the program say it has helped them tremendously. “The best thing about it is that when I failed, they didn’t kick me out,” said Gibson, who relapsed twice. “They kept working with me, encouraging me and that has helped me get where I am today.” What sets the court apart from others is that it’s predicated on the notion of “therapeutic justice,” combining consequences with the assistance necessary to make a change and address the underlying problems causing a person to commit crimes. By interacting with a single judge and prosecutor, the participant is monitored and linked to supportive services and housing. Staff from local nonprofits consult with the court and are often present during hearings to lend support and ensure the participant is completing goals assigned by the court. For it to work, it takes a certain type of judge, prosecutor and public defender — those willing to dedicate extra time to each participant. Tillmon spoke of her staff’s commitment to the court and how some worked extra hours or came in on their off days to help out. “I had realistic expectations going into it,” Tillmon said. “With a good team and the support of people like the supervisor, the city of Santa Monica and the court — all committing to the concept — I knew we could make a difference.” Tillmon said she knew there was a need after spending some time in Santa Monica and witnessing first hand the extent of the homeless problem. After coming in contact with those who are living on the streets,Tillmon felt something needed to be done to help them, especially those with a mental illness, access services so that they could apply for Section 8 housing or Social Security benefits. If the program is extended for another year, Tillmon said she would like to continue her work. “I think the program should be continued,” she said. Another supporter is Betty Haviland, the chief deputy city attorney in charge of the Criminal Division, which acts as City Hall’s prosecutor. Haviland said she has seen chronic law breakers go straight and get help through the court. Those who were resistant to access services are now doing just that, whereas before they would be arrested and be back out on the street committing the same offense over and over again. “There is definitely the revolving door effect,” Haviland said. “Many times the type of crimes committed don’t carry a lot of jail time, and they don’t do jail time anyway, so it feels as if their problems are not being addressed. At least here we can hook them up with services and hopefully they can get back on their feet.” Haviland said the court is not just helping the homeless, but the community as well. Recently, members of the fire department came to court to show their support for chronic alcoholic who checked into a sober living facility. No longer was this individual on the streets causing problems that forced firefighters to respond. This has saved City Hall money while freeing up the officers to respond to other calls. “I think the court is doing something for the community, not just these people,” Haviland said. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 12, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)