La Posada opened in April 2024. Located at 4500 Hollister Avenue, the 80-room community has the capacity to serve up to 96 residents. Residents receive intensive case management, 24/7 security, three meals a day, and on-site access to mental and physical health care.
The success of DignityMoves’ downtown Santa Barbara site prompted the County Board of Supervisors to expand the partnership, committing to build an additional 300 rooms across the county, including those at La Posada, to help close the shelter gap.
La Posada is located on County-owned property at the former Juvenile Hall site at 4500 Hollister Road. Not immediately visible to passersby, the community includes 80-units. Each room is furnished with a bed, a desk and chair, heating and air conditioning, a window, and most importantly: a door that locks.
The community was designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Gensler, employing a trauma-informed approach to ensure that the layout and aesthetics of the DignityMoves village foster a true sense of community. The design not only prioritizes the psychological well-being of its residents but also integrates seamlessly into the surrounding environment.
The state-of-the-art modular units are extremely durable, as well as attractive. They are made with 2” thick walls and provide excellent insulation and energy efficiency. The wall materials are 30% recycled plastics, and the frames are durable steel. The entry to the facility was designed with input from a local architect to beautifully reflect the look and feel of the community. The project will be at this location for approximately 5 years, and then be repurposed and moved to alternative locations to assist other persons in need of interim housing.
With over 30 years of experience, Good Samaritan has an exceptional reputation for providing care and tailored services to North County to help address the root causes of homelessness. Good Samaritan connects clients to mental health care, addiction services, social security income (SSI), and other benefits, along with providing job placement resources, even transportation to off-site appointments. Above all, Good Samaritan works tirelessly to help clients find their way back to stable housing. As of 2024, clients typically stay 90-180 days while they get stabilized and find sustainable housing. La Posada is not a drop-in service location. Individuals will be referred and placed based on needs identified through a coordinated placement system. Each client receives an individualized service and stabilization plan to aid their transition into future housing opportunities. Good Samaritan staff is on site 24/7 and security is also provided.
The Action Plan to Address Homelessness in Santa Barbara
Providing dignified rooms together with critical supportive services, this project serves as a model for future projects countywide as permanent housing alternatives are developed. The Action Plan to Address Homelessness in Santa Barbara County was adopted by the Board of Supervisors. Phase I of that Plan identified a need for 563 additional shelter or interim housing beds. Twenty months later the County issued a Progress Report indicating that 140 beds had been built, but 423 were still needed to close the shelter gap across the County. The County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors are taking this goal seriously and have approved several sites across the County to build these additional beds quickly, so that anyone in the County in need of an interim place to go and get off of the streets into safe housing will have the ability to do so. This project is the next community in a series of communities planned in order to meet that goal of 423 additional beds.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara and would like to be put on the waitlist for housing at our La Posada community, please contact Todd Johnson at 805-518-2694. The Program Manager is Laura Hill at 805-518-2719 and security is 805-458-7147.
DignityMoves does not manage referrals for this community.