SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
In Santa Barbara we provide a variety of services for our neighbors experiencing homelessness that include outreach, case management, housing navigation, interim housing and referrals to partnering local programs. We are proud to announce that we were awarded the Community Partner of the Year for the second time (2021 and 2023) by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara on April 15th, 2024. See the article about this by the Santa Barbara Independent here.
Rob Fredericks, HACSB Executive Director and CEO (back row, center) and staff present the 2023 Outstanding Community Partner of the Year award to City Net Executive Director Brad Fieldhouse (second from the left, back row) and the City Net Team. | Credit: Courtesy of HACSB
CURRENT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SERVICES
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Street outreach is a way to build rapport and trust with people experiencing homelessness, utilizing whole-person care, mental health and behavioral health first aid, trauma-informed care, harm reduction, housing first principles, de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and progressive engagement.
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Case management activities assess housing and service needs and arrange, coordinate, and/or monitor the delivery of individualized services. Specific activities include:
• Assessment and intake using HMIS
• Conducting initial evaluations including verifying and documenting eligibility
• Counseling
• Developing/securing/ coordinating services
• Helping obtain Federal, State, and local benefits
• Monitoring and evaluating program participant progress in particular programs
• Providing information and referrals to other providers
• Developing an individualized housing stabilization plan (see also the housing preparation section below) that leads to the attainment of stable permanent housing.
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Rapid Re-Housing is a time-limited, housing-first intervention that helps people experiencing homelessness swiftly secure and sustain permanent housing. It combines three core services—housing identification (assisting clients to find and lease an affordable home), short- to medium-term rental assistance (subsidizing move-in costs and monthly rent), and targeted case management (connecting clients with community supports, budgeting guidance, and skill-building)—without demanding prerequisites like sobriety or full employment. By focusing on reducing the length of homelessness and empowering tenants to stabilize quickly, rapid rehousing minimizes trauma, fosters self-sufficiency, and frees up emergency shelter capacity. As subsidies taper and clients increase their income or access longer-term benefits, they transition toward fully independent housing.
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City Net began CalAIM services in 2023, where we connected persons experiencing homelessness to housing through City and County funded programs that did not cover the staffing costs for supportive services or move-in assistance. The CalAIM Community Supports programs allow us to supplement our contracts to immediately serve our clients in need to provide Housing Transition/Navigation Services, Housing Deposits, and Housing Tenancy and Sustain Services (the “Housing Trio”).
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Housing Navigation provides end‐to‐end support—conducting needs assessments and budgeting, completing applications and securing required documentation, overcoming credit or legal barriers, and facilitating introductions to landlords and neighborhoods—while case managers address housing histories, family dynamics, and other readiness factors to successfully match clients with stable housing.
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City Net has a proven track record of operating small, medium, and large-scale low-barrier bridge and emergency non-congregate shelters and service centers.
Non-congregate shelters allow shelter guests increased safety, health, privacy, and dignity that a congregate shelter would not, and because each individual and/or household has their own space, it also fosters community in common gathering spaces.
It always complies with all ADA standards for its sites. It provides full client services as well as living amenities including but not limited to linens, laundry facilities, meal provision, community gathering spaces, client storage, private meeting spaces for case management and housing navigation, 24-hour security, janitorial services, pest control, and overall site management.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CURRENT PROJECT DASHBOARDS
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This initiative coordinates Street Outreach and Engagement with the Goleta Police Department’s HLO (Homeless Liaison Officer) for those experiencing homelessness in Goleta.
Services include referrals to all mainstream benefits, identification documentation, housing needs, medical & mental health services, substance abuse services, and access to food and shelter.
REGIONAL CONTACT INFO
Our City Net Santa Barbara Team is currently only enrolling new clients during our daily outreach and engagement efforts. If an individual is already connected to services, they can reach out to their case manager directly. You may also reach us at the Contact Us link in our footer below.
To access additional resources within Santa Barbara County, please click here, dial 211, or click here-> 211 Website. If this is an emergency, please call 911.
