Santa Maria Good Samaritan Shelter partners with Dignity Health to help homeless people struggling with addiction
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Good Samaritan's new center in Santa Maria is helping homeless people who struggle with addiction.
The shelter is teaming up with Dignity Health in Santa Maria to provide a seven-bed facility for homeless people who suffer from addiction.
Those taking part are placed there for a short time, up to 24 hours.
Referrals from official agencies are needed to be taken in.
Once the patient's stay is over, they are taken to a different facility to get additional help.
Good Samaritan leaders say the Santa Maria Stabilization Center is already helping a Central Coast community that's seen an increase in homelessness during the pandemic.
“We've only been open for almost 2 months and we’ve served over 40 individuals,” said Good Samaritan Executive Director Sylvia Barnard. “That says a lot about the need in this community.”
Shelter leaders say they hope to bring the number of homelessness down, and help those struggling get back on their feet.