2003 — The Beginning of CSJ
“A response to the growing legal needs of our unhoused neighbors.”
Founder: Peter Marin
Peter Marin, a passionate advocate for the underserved, launched the Committee for Social Justice (CSJ) in 2003. His goal was to ensure that unhoused individuals—often overlooked by traditional legal systems—received the defense and respect they deserved.
Collaboration with the Legal Defense Center
​CSJ began as an extension of the Legal Defense Center led by Willard Hastings Esq., focusing on unhoused people as a critically underserved group within the community.
Focus Area:
Santa Barbara County, where cold winters and harsh enforcement made life especially difficult for those living on the streets.
Early Advocacy Highlights:
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Provided free legal assistance to unhoused individuals
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Challenged unfair citations and criminalization
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Laid the foundation for future legal victories
Leadership & Dedication
Glen Mowrer, Former Public Defender of Santa Barbara County, led CSJ’s Legal Project during this time. Volunteering his time and expertise, Glen defended unhoused individuals in court—those who had no other legal support.
Over 100 Cases – 90% Success Rate
Between 2003 and 2007, CSJ defended over 100 individuals from infractions and survival-related citations. Over 90% of these cases were either won or dismissed—a powerful testament to the value of legal advocacy in the face of systemic injustice.
Challenging Criminalization: The RV Parking Case
During this period, CSJ sued the City of Santa Barbara to overturn an ordinance that criminalized people living in their vehicles. The lawsuit succeeded, protecting RV dwellers’ right to shelter and setting a precedent against unjust anti-homeless laws.
More Than Legal Wins—A Movement of JusticeThese courtroom victories weren’t just about legal outcomes. They affirmed the right to exist without being punished for it. They built a foundation for future advocacy and reminded Santa Barbara that every life deserves defense.
Community Response & Warming Centers
Creating a Lifeline in Winter
CSJ recognized a dangerous gap: people were freezing in the streets during winter nights. In response, we formed a task force of local advocates and the faith-based community to establish warming centers—emergency shelters that open when the temperature drops below 35°F.
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Collaboration at the Core
The warming centers were an early example of community-driven crisis response. One of our board members, Lynn Jahnke, personally ran the centers for two years. Today, this effort continues through the Good Samaritan Shelter, showing the ongoing impact of what we helped build.
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A Place to Rest, A Chance to Survive
These shelters didn’t just offer beds—they offered dignity and safety. They became a symbol of how policy and compassion can meet in action, especially when lives are at stake during freezing conditions.
Classes Led by Local Talent
Thanks to generous supporters, we were able to pay instructors to teach creative subjects—many of which became deeply meaningful outlets for participants. These classes reconnected individuals with their passions and reminded the community that talent lives in all of us.
Education, Expression & The People’s Institute
The People’s Institute: Empowerment Through Art
CSJ launched The People’s Institute to bring writing, photography, drawing, theater, and music classes to unhoused individuals living in local shelters. Funded through community donations, these programs offered more than just skills—they gave people confidence, expression, and healing.
“When voices are silenced, we created a space for them to be heard.”
Education as a Bridge to Belonging
This initiative wasn’t about charity—it was about equity. It gave unhoused neighbors the chance to learn, share their stories, and feel seen. It was a form of resistance against invisibility, and a bold step toward rehumanization.
Safe Ride & Safe Parking: Mobility with Dignity
CSJ designed and proposed the Safe Ride Program, which found funding to provide after-hours transportation for those released from jail—to prevent tragic outcomes like one of our street friends freezing on a long walk home.
We also proposed the Safe Parking Program, giving people living in their vehicles secure overnight parking—a model we passed on to another nonprofit to run.
​The Elf Project: Crisis
Help Year-Round
For over 15 years, our Elf Project has used up to $3,000/month in direct donations to help unhoused individuals in crisis. From emergency rent to vehicle retrieval and repairs, we fill the urgent gaps that others often ignore.
Compassion-Fueled, Community-Funded
All of this has been made possible with individual donations and minimal overhead. With the exception of our outreach coordinator, we are volunteer-run—proof that heart, not hierarchy, drives real change.