Homelessness Initiatives

Please note, as with most city administrative offices, Community Development and all 630 Garden Street Public Counters will be closed for the winter holidays from Friday, December 20, 2024 through Friday January 3, 2025.  Offices will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. 

For more details, on Land Development closure read the End of the Year Bulletin. For information on other City offices closure, visit the City’s December Holiday Closures webpage.  

Homelessness is a national crisis. The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, estimates that more than 653,000 people are living without a home. 

Santa Barbara has not been immune to this humanitarian crisis. Most recently, the Point-in-Time Count of persons experiencing homelessness identified 987 homeless individuals living in Santa Barbara. Of those, it is estimated that more than 230 persons living unsheltered in City sleep in their vehicles. The number of homeless individuals in the City far outpaces the number of existing shelter beds, transitional housing, or permanent supportive housing units available. 

The City supports and partners with agencies that help individuals experiencing homelessness. To learn more, see the Partner Agencies section below. If you need assistance, please contact these partners directly.