Over the past decade, Santa Barbara, similar to many other California towns, has experienced a homelessness crisis. This crisis has been observed by the city council and other intervention services, prompting them to act.
The city council and supervisors’ primary focus has been on developing affordable housing. In Santa Barbara, one of the most expensive cities to live in the country, the median rent of a one-bedroom apartment will be $2,890 in 2025 according to the City of Santa Barbara public records. Conversely, the median rent nationally for a one-bedroom apartment in 2025 is $1,495, according to the U.S. National Rent Report. Clearly, affordable housing within the Santa Barbara community is an issue.”I think it is good to have more affordable housing options, but we do not need more people moving here,” Lena Fackler, a junior at Santa Barbara High School (SBHS) stated when asked about affordable housing.
The most significant new housing project is the purchase of 816 Cacique Street, a former People Supporting The Homeless (PATH) housing and resource center. The city acquired this building to ensure uninterrupted service. People experiencing homelessness who rely on PATH will not see a break between resources due to this buyout. The city, along with this, will continue improving all the services it provides. An EDHAT article revealed that the total amount spent on this project will be $4.06 million.
PATH renovation is not the only project on the horizon. The Paseo Nuevo development will be home to 233 market-rate apartments and 80 affordable housing apartments, according to the project page on the Council website.
Not much info has been released, but it is confirmed to be coming soon.
Ms. Bryan, the Santa Barbara High School teacher/librarian shared what she thought about the new project. “Affordable housing is super good and especially good for teachers.” she said.
For people who are hoping to later transition into affordable housing units, there are shelters in the community.
The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission has been a cornerstone in Santa Barbara, providing shelter, food, and support. According to their website, they serve over 140,000 meals annually and provide shelter for 200 local men and women.
The shelter has been around since 1945 and is continuing to provide support through 2026.
Along with the Rescue Mission, additional national resources are available in Santa Barbara, such as the Salvation Army. They provide transitional shelter for people 18 and over, to help them re-enter society successfully and become self-sufficient. The Salvation Army runs on donations and community support. People throughout are supporting the movement through those outlets.
With the support of all these resources, the city has established its goal to make homelessness less frequent and short-lived.
“I think there should be more resources for people who need help to be able to find that help and find houses that work for them.” senior at Santa Barbara High School Ava Hough, said about the city’s goals.
