Nestled between the vineyards of the Santa Ynez mountains and the glittering Pacific Ocean is the city of Santa Barbara. Known as the “American Riviera,” it’s not just a tourist draw. College students, snowbirds, and locals all enjoy the vacation vibe of this city that feels like a town.
Given the serene landscape, it makes sense that Sanctuary Centers, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing mental illness, would situate itself here. Combining essential services with a supportive environment for anyone adversely affected by mental illness, Sanctuary Centers provides a community-based continuum of care while promoting community wellbeing.
Theirs is a holistic approach that includes both inpatient and outpatient treatment, an integrated health clinic, and — coming soon — a 34-unit residential apartment for those who can live independently.
“Sanctuary Centers is one of the only nonprofits in the nation that provides behavioral health support and housing in this way,” said marketing and development director Lola Ban West. “That’s noteworthy.”
It’s also extremely necessary: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an estimated one in five U.S. adults, or nearly 58 million people, live with a mental illness. And approximately 14 million of them live with severe mental illness.
These numbers indicate that we all know someone — love someone — with mental illness, and its why robust care is so important.
The Sanctuary Centers of Santa Barbara provides multiple arms of service. The Sanctuary House, a 12-bed residential treatment program, is an alternative to hospitalization for people aged 18 and older who are experiencing a mental health crisis and possible co-occurring disorders.
The nonprofit also has a 36-unit low-income housing facility and an outpatient program which provides clients with therapy, individual and group counseling, and occupational support services. In addition to these resources, Sanctuary Centers has an integrated care clinic that provides medical, dental, and mental health care services to community members in need.
“We also offer psychiatric services to kids and adolescents at no cost because we know early intervention is critical,” Ban West said.
With demand for mental health services growing, Sanctuary Centers broke ground this past December on a state-of-the-art low-income housing complex. With 34 units and a health clinic, residents will have access to medical, dental, and psychiatric care as well as behavioral support and community connection all under one roof.
“It’s sort of unprecedented,” Ban West said. “People with mental health issues face several barriers to receiving care. So, we’re trying to remove those barriers and hope this is a model that can be replicated across the state and the nation.
This new facility is possible because policy makers recognized the benefit of Sanctuary Centers’ services not just to their clients, but to the larger Santa Barbara community. The City Council, state assembly members, and Governor Newsom have rallied to support this latest project.
Sanctuary Centers is also the recipient of funding from state and local grants and has the support of private entities.
Cox Business, which has provided television and phone services to the organization’s residential facilities for more than 30 years, will provide substantial build support as it pertains to service infrastructure. Committed to building connections, Cox will also provide television for future residents, fast and reliable fiber internet to the basement and first floors where integrated services and staff offices will be located.
The as-yet unnamed facility is expected to be completed in 2026. Until that time, Sanctuary Centers will continue with its holistic approach of supporting people living with mental illness, providing the serenity and peace they need to get well, and helping them learn to live independently.