Since opening last June, the FARO Center on Chapala Street, operated by the Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation (SB ACT), has successfully housed more than 100 individuals and assisted many others, according to Executive Director Rich Sander.
“We opened the center a year ago because we knew that this was something that the city needed,” Sander said. “Over the past year, we’ve served about 1,300 unique individuals, averaging around 70 people a day.”
The FARO Center serves as a navigation hub, offering professional help for a range of issues, including physical and mental health services, clothing, job searching, and assistance with housing. While the center has made strides in supporting the community, it has also faced complaints from neighbors regarding loitering, smoking, trespassing, and congested parking…