Find alternatives to calling the Santa Barbara Police Department.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
These resources may be obligated to call police in the case of an immediate risk of harm to the caller or another, child abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement or involve them beyond what is required by law, we acknowledge that in the listing.
These resources are not intended to cover all situations, only to provide the services described. If you are in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911.
Housing
- Santa Barbara 211
- Free, confidential, 24/7 referral to community services in Santa Barbara County, including emergency and transitional shelter. Can provide information to callers by text. Online information updated to reflect changes to service due to COVID.
- 211 or (800) 400-1572 (24/7)
- https://211santabarbaracounty.org/
- Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
- Provides emergency shelter for men and women. Also provides free dinner and showers for individuals. Has a 12-month residential substance recovery program with room for 45 men and 24 women. Check-in and showers for women is from 3:30 – 4:30 pm, for men is from 5 – 6:30 pm. Call in advance if possible, but walk-ins accepted.
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (phone)
- 535 E. Yanonali Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
- (805) 966-1316
- Ext 111 (shelter)
- Ext 226 (men’s recovery program)
- Ext 800 (women’s recovery program)
- https://sbrm.org/
LGBTQ+
- Pacific Pride Foundation
- Provides services to the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ communities of Santa Barbara County. All of our programs are free or low-cost. Provides free and anonymous HIV and Hepatitis C testing, syringe exchange, HIV prevention and education, and youth services. Mental health services are available on a sliding scale. Free and anonymous HIV and Hepatitis C testing also available from Pacific Pride Foundation’s mobile testing van. Some services suspended due to COVID-19, see website for full information and syringe exhcange dates and locations.
- Upcoming syringe exchange dates: November 5th, 19th; December 3rd, 17th at Alameda Park, corner of Sola & Anacapa, from 5:30pm- while supplies last*
- 608 Anacapa Street, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- (805) 963-3636 (may need to leave message for mental health and other services)
- https://pacificpridefoundation.org/
Mental Health
- Behavioral Wellness Access Line
- County ACCESS 24-Hour crisis line – 1-888-868-1649 – Provides inpatient, outpatient and crisis basis services for individuals with moderate-to-severe mental health and/or alcohol and substance-use conditions throughout Santa Barbara County. Services are available in Spanish and additional languages.
- (888) 868-1649 (24/7)
- Community Helpline
- Helps callers work through feelings that range from loneliness & depression, to suicide. Serves all of California.
- 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
- (877) 541-2525
- http://chelpline.org/
- Crisis Support Services
- Provides free crisis de-escalation, crisis prevention, and resource referral. Utilizes non-confrontational methods and avoids hospitalization and police involvement.
- 1 (800) 953-9593 (24/7)
- https://www.tri-counties.org/wp-content/uploads/phocadownload/css-brochure.pdf
- Santa Barbara Response Network
- Provides free support for the families of victims of homocide or suicide, including funeral services and counseling. Train organizations in psychological first aid (PFA).
- (805) 699-5608 (24/7)
- https://sbresponsenetwork.org/
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Domestic Violence Solutions
- Operates 24-hour hotlines in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Provides counseling, information, referrals, and access to immediate shelter. Emergency shelter or victims of domestic violence and their children for up to 60 days, along with food, clothing, counseling, advocacy, and referrals. Also provides free, drop-in confidential consultation with therapists.
- (805) 964-5245 (24/7)
- https://dvsolutions.org/
- Quarantine at hotel (funded by org.) and ongoing COVID testing required for residential services.
- Standing Together to End Sexual Assault
- Provides 24-hour hotline for confidential counseling and information over the phone. Advocacy available for victims of sexual assault. Also provides free sexual assault prevention presentations and self-defense workshops. In-person services suspended due to COVID, call for assistance.
- Office hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 433 E. Cañon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- (805) 564-3696 (24/7 Hotline)
- Office: (805) 963-6832
- https://sbstesa.org/
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- California Coalition for Youth
- Statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis with access to over 5,500 free or low-cost resources for youth and families in crisis.
- 1 (800) 843-5200 (24/7 Crisis Line)
- http://calyouth.org/cycl/
- Casa Pacifica
- Safe Alternatives for Treating Youth (SAFTY) program provides mobile crisis response services from 8 am to 8 pm every day of the year for youth up until their 21st birthday. Provides quick and accessible services including specialized crisis intervention, in-home support, and linkage to County Alcohol, Drug and Mental health Services or other appropriate agencies.
- 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- (888) 334-2777
- https://www.casapacifica.org/
- Noah’s Anchorage
- Provides emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth age 12-17. Also provides outreach services – showers (for youth under 18), food, hygiene products, clothing, laundry services, and personal property storage for youth. Youth under 21 can drop in during drop in hours.
- Drop in hours: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (7 days/week)
- 301 West Figueroa St., Santa Barbara 93103
- (805) 963-8775 (General)
- Crisis hotline: 1 (866) 4357-8336 or (805) 963-8775 ext 1432 (24/7)
- Crisis text: (805) 698-6701
- https://www.ciymca.org/locations/noahs-anchorage-ymca
Elders
Coming soon.
Crime
- California Rural Legal Assistance
- Provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals living in rural and other communities throughout all of California. CRLA clients include farmworkers, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, school children, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) populations, seniors and individuals with limited English proficiency.
- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon. – Fri.
- 1 (800) 337-0690
- http://www.crla.org/
- Santa Barbara Response Network
- Provides free support for the families of victims of homocide or suicide, including funeral services and counseling. Train organizations in psychological first aid (PFA).
- (805) 699-5608 (24/7)
- https://sbresponsenetwork.org/
Substances
- Pacific Pride Foundation
- Provides services to the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ communities of Santa Barbara County. All of our programs are free or low-cost. Provides free and anonymous HIV and Hepatitis C testing, syringe exchange, HIV prevention and education, and youth services. Mental health services are available on a sliding scale. Free and anonymous HIV and Hepatitis C testing also available from Pacific Pride Foundation’s mobile testing van. Some services suspended due to COVID-19, see website for full information.
- Upcoming syringe exchange dates: November 5th, 19th; December 3rd, 17th at Alameda Park, corner of Sola & Anacapa, from 5:30pm- while supplies last*
- 608 Anacapa Street, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- (805) 963-3636 (may need to leave message for mental health and other services)
- https://pacificpridefoundation.org/
- Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
- Provides emergency shelter for men and women. Also provides free dinner and showers for individuals. Has a 12-month residential substance recovery program with room for 45 men and 24 women. Check-in and showers for women is from 3:30 – 4:30 pm, for men is from 5 – 6:30 pm. Call in advance if possible, but walk-ins accepted.
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (phone)
- 535 E. Yanonali Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
- (805) 966-1316
- Ext 111 (shelter)
- Ext 226 (men’s recovery program)
- Ext 800 (women’s recovery program)
- https://sbrm.org/
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Santa Barbara Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.