Step Down Housing (SDH) offers supportive housing for up to 20 individuals (5 female and 15 male) with mental health and/or substance use disorders, who are also justice-impacted and experiencing homelessness. Following stabilization, individuals are “stepped down” from a higher level-of-care setting, such as residential treatment, to one of four substance-free homes where they can reside for six to twelve months to facilitate reentry into the Santa Barbara community.

Individuals living at SDH receive case management, medical and behavioral health support, weekly support groups, life skills education (e.g., financial literacy, managing personal property), and housing support (e.g., securing housing vouchers, locating long-term housing) as appropriate. Food and limited transportation are provided. Housing staff includes four live-in housing assistants (one per house), one life skills case manager, one program manager, and one behavioral health case manager, all of whom are trained in trauma-informed approaches to client engagement.

SDH uses a multi-agency and client-centered approach to achieve health and wellness, with the goal of transitioning clients into permanent independent housing. Program partners include Good Samaritan Shelter, Family Service Agency, SBC Behavioral Wellness, and SBC Public Defender.