Scaling Up to Tackle Rising Homelessness

A man in his 40s with tears in his eyes walked into Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center late one evening – evicted for the first time, overwhelmed by the sudden blow, and unsure where to turn.

“He kept saying, ‘I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know who to ask for help,’” recalls Kristine Schwarz, Executive Director of New Beginnings. “When people are overwhelmed, sometimes what they need most is somebody to acknowledge their situation and say, ‘Let me help you.’”

As Santa Barbara’s housing and mental health crises intensify, New Beginnings is scaling up to meet the growing demand. The nonprofit provides counseling, housing assistance, and a safe place for those on the edge, blending practical support with emotional care for homeless and low-income individuals and families throughout the county.

With significant expansion efforts over the past years, New Beginnings is reaching more of the county’s most vulnerable, offering stability and connection when it’s needed most. Founded more than 50 years ago, New Beginnings started as a small counseling center and has evolved into an essential Santa Barbara social safety net. 

Key programs include the Safe Parking Program, which offers secure overnight parking for individuals living in their vehicles – a vital service for those facing sudden homelessness – and rapid rehousing assistance for connection to stable, permanent housing. Their Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program provides tailored housing and case management support to those who have served, addressing unique challenges. The organization also runs the largest clinical training program in the county, training master’s and doctoral-level therapists to be the next generation of helpers amid the severe shortage of mental health providers.

New Beginnings’ growth comes in response to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has driven a surge in first-time homelessness, mental health issues, and financial instability across the region. Over the last fiscal year, the organization saw a dramatic rise in demand for its services, with a 15% increase in unduplicated clients, totaling over 2,000 individuals, with 88% of New Beginnings’ clients falling under 50% of the Area Median Income.

More people are seeking therapy and staying longer, with an increasing number of families and couples coming in for help. Yet the average fee per session still remains just $13.

“People haven’t bounced back emotionally or mentally,” says Schwarz. “We’re seeing higher levels of distress, and it’s clear the level of need is showing no signs of returning to what it was before the pandemic.”

As the need continues to grow – an 18% increase in people housed, a 24% rise in counseling center clients, and a 42% surge in veterans served – New Beginnings continues to rise to the challenge, says Schwarz, providing not just housing and mental health services but a holistic whole-person support system for those at risk of losing it all.

“We can’t prevent you from falling into homelessness, but if you do, we can catch you and help you transition back into housing,” says Schwarz.