Homelessness remains a persistent challenge in Santa Barbara. Shelters and outreach organizations work tirelessly, day and night, to assist unhoused neighbors. Many people who find themselves homeless due to relationship breakdowns or financial hardship can be helped with general case management. This type of "light touch" assistance is offered by all shelters and outreach workers, providing support to those who just need a temporary hand to get back on their feet.
However, there is another group of people experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara who are much harder to serve — those referred to as high acuity individuals. These are people struggling with persistent mental health issues or co-occurring substance use disorders, making it difficult for them to obtain or maintain housing without intensive support. Their needs go beyond the bottle of water and service referral that outreach workers typically provide. What they truly require is help from trained mental health professionals.
This begs the question: where is Santa Barbara County’s Department of Behavioral Wellness (BeWell) in all of this?