An $8 million grant to resolve 18 vehicle encampments in the county and city of Santa Barbara have been awarded to the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria/Summerland, Isla Vista, Lompoc, and Santa Maria, and three vehicle encampments in unincorporated county locations.

New Beginnings, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing housing insecurity and mental wellness, was named the nonprofit partner for implementation of the award, which is one of the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) grants recently announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The award represents a significant investment in New Beginnings’ efforts to house individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara County, the nonprofit said.

“Far too many Californians continue to live in their cars or on the streets, and this critical state funding will help Santa Barbara County provide effective and locally-driven solutions and supportive services to our most vulnerable” said state Sen. Monique Limón, whose district includes Santa Barbara County.

“I will continue to advocate in the senate for funding and resources for our communities to address homelessness as it is available,” she said.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our community to strategically focus significant resources on an identifiable and attainable goal,” said Kristine Schwarz, executive director of New Beginnings. “We look forward to working with landlords, property managers, and the myriad other community stakeholders who are essential partners in this effort.”

With the goal of ending homelessness, New Beginnings offers a comprehensive range of services to help individuals, families, and veterans through both its Safe Parking and
Supportive Services for Veteran Families Programs.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Safe Parking Program, the nation’s leading and model program for sheltering and housing the vehicular homeless.