Santa Barbara ACT prepares to open permanent site

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – In just a few weeks, SB ACT will have a new home in Santa Barbara.

"We work to try to bring communities together to address large scale, social issues … so what we do is we find an issue like homelessness … we try to bring together partners from the business community the nonprofit community government," said associate director Landon Ranck of SB ACT.

For years, the nonprofit organization work with those in need as a “pop-up” service at parks and parking lots.

But that was less than ideal.

"However, some of the downsides of being in pop-up locations are your Outside often it’s not as dignified. You have less privacy to address some of the really substantial means that people have," said Ranck.

Starting in June, those who are homeless can receive daytime services from multiple agencies at SB ACT’s new site.

"It’s gonna be significantly better because we will have a location that everyone will be familiarized with. We will also not be so caught up with weather changes in the sense that will be inside," said assistant program coordinator Leticia Trujillo of SB ACT.

SB ACT is welcoming community donations and support for its official opening in June.

"Biggest challenges ... one of them ... is just that we have a lot of work to do on the space as you can see we’re trying to get it set up so that it’s a really comfortable conducive environment," said Ranck.

Managers of the agency believe this location will serve as a safe, and welcoming space for those in need.

The center will be open five days a week for four to six hours a day. 

If you would like to help SB ACT by offering donations or furniture, visit: https://sbact.org/.