County supervisors on Tuesday approved the next step in the City of Santa Barbara’s plan to facilitate the continued service of a homeless shelter on the Eastside.

People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), which has operated the shelter at 816 Cacique St. since 2015, notified the city in early August that it will cease services at the end of 2025, according to spokesman Bryan Latchford.

The nonprofit’s planned departure prompted the city to begin a process to purchase the property so the shelter can remain open while a new permanent operator is selected. Part of that process involved seeking an amendment to the property’s original covenant, which restricted ownership to a nonprofit entity.

Supervisors approved the change unanimously, allowing the city to move forward with purchasing the site.

PATH has provided access to 100 beds year-round for referrals from partner agencies around the county including Cottage Health, County Probation and the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The organization said in October that its decision to leave was driven by financial reasons and policy decisions that made it difficult to sustain operations without additional public funding.

As part of the transition, Santa Barbara selected Mercy House Living Centers to serve as the interim provider from Dec. 1 through June 2026.

Latchford said the city plans to issue a request for proposals in early spring to choose a permanent operator for the shelter services. He said Mercy House met with clients in early December and is hiring staff ahead of PATH’s final day on Dec. 31. 

Latchford said the City Council is scheduled to consider the property purchase on Dec. 16, with escrow expected to close early next year.