Barbara Andersen, Santa Barbara’s lead on homelessness initiatives, presented a mixed report to the City Council this week, highlighting both progress and growing challenges in addressing homelessness across the South Coast.
One of the key successes mentioned was the opening of a new day center on Chapala Street in August, which now serves over 40 individuals daily, connecting them with vital services to transition off the streets. Additionally, 169 new affordable housing units were introduced over the past year, alongside similar numbers of tiny homes and converted motel rooms made available to the homeless population. City Net outreach workers, who operate daily, reported making over 800 contacts, resulting in 82 people receiving direct assistance. “The needle isn’t just moving; it’s dancing,” Andersen said, noting the progress made in transitioning people into housing.
However, Andersen delivered sobering news as well. State and federal funding that has sustained many of these programs has been slashed by 50%, putting future efforts at risk. “This is disheartening for us,” she admitted.