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.