Our Three-Stage Housing Program

Emergency Shelter
Transition House’s emergency shelter houses up to 70 people per night. Working with case management staff, families are stabilized, career goals are identified and strategies to reach them are implemented. Children are placed in schools or no-cost childcare. Families also participate in mandatory education programs and savings plans. Families may remain in the emergency shelter for 3 months.
Transitional Residence
Transition House’s second stage facility, called the Firehouse, gives working families who have achieved stability the opportunity to live for 6 months in an independent environment. A portion of income is used for rent and the family shares a kitchen and living room/dining room with several other families. Case management emphasizing career counseling, money management and further education continues.
Permanent Affordable Housing
Transition House families with long range goals to achieve economic self-sufficiency can apply for placement in one of Transition House’s 29 affordable apartments. While case management continues, families are fully invested in employment, savings have accrued and the family becomes self-sufficient. Stays of up to five years are allowed before fully independent families move on to market rate housing.

Description:
Our Family Centered Services include:

Three stages of supported housing
Provision of all basic needs during the crisis period including three nutritious meals per day, transportation assistance, clothing, toiletries
Fully licensed, high quality free
childcare
Career Development Program
The Family Support Center education program including free onsite ESL and parenting classes, plus a computer lab
Licensed Family Counseling
Money management training
Primary healthcare
Free after school tutoring program
Evening Arts Enrichment program
for children
Homelessness Prevention Program for at risk community individuals and families
Technology and Literacy for Children

History:
In 1983, as a result of a growing homeless population in the Santa Barbara community, various groups began coming together to form what is now Transition House. Representatives from the social services community including Catholic Charities, Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, CRIS, People’s Coalition, and Afro-American Community Services formed an Emergency Services Group that met at the Eastside Library. They realized that there were no dedicated beds for homeless women and children in Santa Barbara. The problem was overwhelming and needed the support of the community. They began to petition various resources in town, looking for someone to fill the gap. On St. Patrick’s Day in 1984, Alice Gillaroo of Catholic Charities met with John Dally and the Vestry Committee of Trinity Episcopal Church regarding the critical need. Members of Santa Barbara’s faith-based communities also noticed the growing need for homeless services in Santa Barbara. Reverend Robert Challinor, Rector of Trinity Episcopal at that time, explains, “I was bombarded every day by people wanting a place to stay—even on our porch.” Trinity Episcopal stepped up to the challenge along with Reverend Bob Pryor of First Presbyterian, Tony Perino of the Unitarian Society, and representatives from First United Methodist. Soon after this meeting, a total of 12 faith-based communities formed the Inter-Religious Taskforce on Homelessness. Out of this union grew Transition House.

On March 1, 1985, Trinity Episcopal Church was the first to open its doors. First United Methodist and First Presbyterian were the second and third shelter locations, providing food, shelter and volunteers to staff the program. The response was overwhelming: 177 people came to find shelter during the first month of operation.

After two years of moving from one church to the next on a month-to-month basis, Transition House finally found dedicated space. The Quonset Hut at 210 Ortega Street officially opened to guests on April 1, 1985 with 35 beds. Volunteer proctors took turns staffing the shelter overnight, braving the cold, and drinking coffee to stay awake. Peg Gard, volunteer proctor stated, “There were not enough beds and we took turns sleeping. And, hopefully, someone would get the bed warm for you.” Although the shelter residents had to bear with public sleeping quarters, cold drafts, and overcrowding, they at least knew they would have a roof over their heads, three meals a day, and a warm, friendly smile to come home to.

Initial funding for renting the Quonset Hut was provided by the Housing Foundation of Santa Barbara and an anonymous donor. Soon, remodeling began with Ken Kruger as architect. Bathrooms, a few individual rooms, an office, and a room for used clothing were built into the structure. The Inter-Religious Taskforce changed its name to Transition House. Non-profit status was achieved and Transition House hired its first Executive Director, Alice Gillaroo Hasler.

Contact person: Carly Harrod, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (805) 966-6331

Address:

425 E. Cota Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (See a map)