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Santa Barbara Council adopts one-year homelessness response framework, authorizes contracts for shelters and outreach
Summary
The council adopted a one-year homelessness response framework and funding plan, authorizing two one-year contracts — $200,000 with Good Samaritan Shelter and $561,364.17 with Kingdom Causes dba City Net — and asked staff to return with operating agreements for Faro Center and Casa Casique.
The Santa Barbara City Council on July 28 adopted a one-year homelessness response framework and funding plan directing continued investment in interim housing, prevention and outreach.
"In 2025, the system achieved a 32% exit rate to permanent housing," Carrie Payne, the city's housing and homeless services manager, told the council as she summarized county and local data and explained the funding mix. Payne said 50% of the city's funding in the plan is directed to interim housing, 21% to prevention, with the remainder for outreach, service coordination and day centers.
The council authorized two continuing contracts for fiscal year 2027: contract #30057 with Good Samaritan Shelter for $200,000 to provide seven shelter beds at the Dignity Moves interim housing site, and contract #30096 with Kingdom Causes dba City Net for $561,364.17 to provide street outreach seven days a week and manage bed referrals, Payne said. "We are not asking for more money, and hopefully we will end up with less expenses than we originally anticipated," she added, noting two pending grants expected to reduce net city costs.
Councilmembers pressed staff on service details and neighborhood impacts during a lengthy Q&A. Mayor Pro Tem Sneddon and others sought more clarity about whether the city planned a downtown drop‑in day center, the capacity of Faro Center, and safeguards if Faro's operating model changed. Payne said the Faro Center will expand some same-day appointments and that Casa Casique would explore on-site clinic services; staff will return with Faro Center and Casa Casique operating agreements on Sept. 1.
Councilmember Jordan moved to accept the staff recommendations; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sneddon and carried after deliberations. Staff said the program will be implemented beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and that the city will complete an independent fee study to set program fees and staffing costs before startup.
