NAMI Santa Barbara

12/19/2025

"The supervisors got a serious earful from six mental-health and criminal-justice-reform advocates arguing they could they cut the number of new jail beds now proposed for the North County Jail by one-third and save $44 million without compromising public safety. That savings, they noted, did not include the millions saved in salaries for new jail safety personnel or the millions more spent on debt financing.

Over the next five years, the county government is looking at $66 million in cumulative budget shortfalls.

12/14/2025

https://www.independent.com/2025/12/10/santa-barbara-supervisors-get-eye-opening-snapshot-of-jail-population/

Data dump provides stats on who’s getting booked into county jail, who’s staying, and, most critically important, who might not need to be there.

12/14/2025

https://www.noozhawk.com/31-million-permanent-supportive-housing-complex-coming-to-goleta/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Noozhawk%E2%80%99s%20A.M.%20Report%2012.14.2025&utm_source=9ec8acd2c4&utm_source=Noozhawk&utm_campaign=8f6d066930-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_12_08_10_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8f6d066930-247250449

A three-story permanent supportive housing development for homeless people is coming to Goleta. The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara is

11/10/2025

https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/bed-shortage-could-lead-to-release-of-mentally-ill-inmates-orange-county-da-says/?fbclid=IwY2xjawN8S0ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe-REvdztAQ4zxNY1cPfXIYkUVtky8XWU6lxtA5YXlmWNNdSlrdaTrMFxYrHQ_aem_Jwx2-9SGj_hsJkENReBvLQ

Orange County DA Todd Spitzer said 12 mentally ill men facing criminal charges could be released if county staff cannot find a facility to house them.

10/10/2025

https://www.independent.com/2025/10/08/sylvia-barnard-with-her-tiny-homes-and-magical-kitchen-saves-lives/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Indy%20Today%3A%20Sylvia%20Barnard%20with%20Her%20Tiny%20Homes%20and%20Magical%20Kitchen%20Saves%20Lives&utm_campaign=Indy%20Today%2C%20Thursday%2010%2F9%20%28Copy%29

Good Samaritan is an organization that actually helps people.

09/09/2025

With the right treatment, you can lead a productive, rewarding life. Use these tips to manage your condition.

08/15/2025

See this CBS interview with FASMI on the President's Executive Order on Homelessness. FASMI is Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill.

President Trump has identified mental illness as one of the root causes of homelessness and promoted forced commitment as a solution in an executive order targeting the issue that he signed last month. But a group of mental health advocates said the approach is lacking humanity.

05/21/2025

https://www.independent.com/2025/05/20/northern-santa-barbara-county-to-get-96-bed-acute-care-facility/

Signet Health Central Coast gets state bond money for its $25 million proposal while the county’s two applications come up empty.

04/02/2025

https://www.noozhawk.com/county-supervisors-vote-to-add-beds-to-northern-branch-jail/

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted to add more beds to the Northern Branch Jail after a long and complicated meeting on Tuesday. The

04/02/2025

https://www.ksby.com/santa-barbara-south-coast/santa-barbara-county-supervisors-discuss-adding-beds-at-county-jails

In a Tuesday meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, the sheriff’s office requested the board vote on expanding beds at county jails in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.

11/07/2024

https://www.independent.com/2024/11/06/why-we-need-mental-health-treatment-beds/

While no one wants our loved ones subject to an involuntary placement, it is sometimes literally a matter of life or death for the most ill until they can regain their capacity for self care.

11/02/2024

"According to a 2023 study by KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation) of people insured by Affordable Care Act plans, less than two-tenths of 1% of people who were denied treatment filed an appeal with their health plans."

Ryan Matlock died within days of being released from a California addiction treatment center after his health plan declined to cover his extended stay.