SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The FARO Center in Santa Barbara has rolled out major changes this month, sparking concern among homeless residents and service providers.
As of August 1, the center shifted to an appointment-only model under direction from the City of Santa Barbara. The change has sharply reduced daily visits — from about 70 people a day to roughly 20. Guests must now be referred by a service provider or government agency, or have a scheduled appointment before walking through the doors.
Along with the shift in access, several core services have been cut back. Hot meals are no longer served, replaced instead with snack bags. The syringe safety program has ended. New expectations and guidelines for clients are now in place, while daytime security continues onsite…