The Goleta City Council unanimously voted to renew and expand the New Beginnings Counseling Center’s Safe Parking Program in the city.

The council on Tuesday approved a two-year partnership with the program, which provides a space for people living in their vehicles, for $60,000.

In Goleta, 150 to 200 people sleep in their vehicles at night, according to NBCC data.

“We are excited to continue that collaboration and to really be responsive and flexible and super focused on trying to address the very specific areas in the city of Goleta and the overall issue there,” New Beginnings Executive Director Kristine Schwarz said.

The Neighborhood Services Department identified areas near Girsh Park and East Ekwill Street as prominent vehicular homelessness areas, according to Chuck Flacks, homelessness services coordinator.

In 2025, 160 people were identified as living in their vehicles, nearly twice the number from 2024.

The partnership agreement will allow New Beginnings to focus on Goleta more than it has in the past, according to Schwarz.

“We can bring more of our multidisciplinary staff members to the community, and that helps us to address the more acute behavioral, substance, physical, aging, employment and benefit issues,” she said.

It also will support the operation of 36 safe parking spaces in five different parking lots within Goleta. Additionally, New Beginnings will set out to find more lots, including some of private businesses, to add to the program’s list. 

Currently, New Beginnings operates 36 safe parking lots across two city parking lots and three churches.

“New Beginnings has an outstanding track record in the city of Goleta for outreach and placement of people living in vehicles,” Flacks said in a letter to the council.

The City of Goleta first partnered with the parking program in 2011 to operate the program on city property. 

The agreement was later expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the sites remained operational despite the agreement ending because of high demand. 

In September, the Neighborhood Services Department proposed expanding the parking program because of high demand and low state and federal funding.

The expanded partnership also will require New Beginnings to provide a monthly impact report.

“We really appreciate the city’s commitment to working with the vehicle homeless population,” Schwarz said.