The PATH to Housing and Food Security

For more than four decades, PATH has been a beacon of hope and help for people experiencing homelessness in California. The statewide organization expanded to Santa Barbara in 2015. PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) follows the effective “Housing First” approach, which connects people to housing and then focuses on stabilization through voluntary supportive services.

Once interim housing has been achieved in their 100-bed facility on Cacique Street, the nonprofit works to transition their program participants into permanent housing while also providing case management, medical and mental healthcare, benefits advocacy, employment training, and other services. In Santa Barbara, the nonprofit has connected over 680 people to permanent homes since 2015. 

PATH is always expanding its approach and services. To help combat the rising number of students who don’t have stable housing while they study, the organization just launched a rapid rehousing program – Pathways Home – in partnership with Santa Barbara City College.

“We’re working with students who are currently unhoused or at imminent risk of losing their housing, helping them find a place to live and supporting them by covering costs to move in, furnish it, and pay the monthly rent,” says Liz Adams, PATH Santa Barbara’s regional director. “Going to college is difficult enough as it is. If you’re struggling to survive and you can’t meet your basic needs of food and shelter, how are you going to be successful in classes?”

Now PATH is putting extra attention on its food rescue program, where the nonprofit partners with the Foodbank to pick up food donated by local grocery stores, a massive effort that last year totaled more than $2 million dollars worth of products. The food is part of what PATH uses to make and serve three meals per day to its on-site participants, but it’s also earmarked for other people in the community impacted by food insecurity, including the SBCC students and PATH’s street outreach programs. More than 10,000 pounds a month also goes back out to other nonprofits, such as Veggie Rescue, City Net, or the Faulding Hotel, whose representatives come to the facility to choose what serves their vulnerable participants best.

“People today have so many pressing issues. We want food to be the least of their worries, so we do everything we can to take that burden off of people’s shoulders,” Adams says. “As with all of our programs, we meet people where they’re at. And, we’re helping reduce food waste in the community.”