Worst program ever!!! They don't help you at all!! The "manager" supports ICE!! They don't care if…read moreyou will get deported!! Cheyenne Harty is the WORST AND RUDEST worker. They were supposed to help us with housing but instead just took our money to pay their apartment complex. All they care was about your money instead of our mental health. DO NOT GO HERE!!! Very much unnecessary strict rules. Definitely g somewhere else!

I have had the sincere privilege to volunteer at Transition House, off and on, for about 10 years…read morenow. And the reason I keep coming back is because Transition House truly does make a difference in people's lives. When I'm serving plates of warm food to young, rambunctious, bright and articulate kids, I can see what a service that Transition House provides to the Santa Barbara community. This is not a place where families are forgotten about. I love seeing the parents working on homework with their kids, to then go on to take more classes themselves, on site, to take advantage of every opportunity to better themselves and their situations. These are truly loving families on their way up and I'm so glad that Transition House is there to provide that space!!

In celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month (APIHM), I am sharing a recent…read morediscovery/experience. While I am pretty naïve when it comes to the Buddhist faith and practice, I happened upon this American Buddhist Meditation Temple (ABMT) through a Google Maps marker. I immediately hit the road out of curiosity. Directions: To find this temple, head south on Patterson Ave toward the ocean, passing over the Atascadero Creek and bike path. You'll go up a hill into the More Mesa neighborhood with ranches and orchid farms. Follow the signs to Cal-Orchid by turning right on Orchid Dr (there was no street sign when I visited). The street dead ends with three gravel parking spots on the left for the temple. Given that parking is limited, it is acceptable to park on the property of Cal-Orchid to the right. This was such a unique and hidden find that most locals are probably unaware of its existence. It is a quiet place to practice meditation, offer support to the monks, attend Buddhist ceremonies, and for interested participants to attend formal retreats. The monks here perform a ceremony daily at 4 pm involving chanting and meditation. The property is truly serene with a light breeze, blooming flowers, and greenery of bamboo in every corner of the eye. Buddha statues are also discovered throughout--even in unlikely places such as trees or on rocks. There are multiple areas for meditation, a covered shrine, and places for offerings. Truly a beautiful site for all to explore and learn about. If you visit here, please consider leaving a donation in the locked box for its preservation and services.

This is a review about renting a room for a training. Fantastic location with lots of parking. The…read moreoutside area was gorgeous and well maintained. The inside was clean and decorated well. Our room was large with plenty of space and privacy. The bathrooms were located close by. There was also a coffee shop across the street for convenience.

Every cent you give to them is given directly back out in aid. No overhead whatsoever. They're 100%…read moreefficient. That's pretty amazing.

Great staff, amazing programs my kids love coming to the club. Thank you for all the work you do!read more

I have been teaching middle school for 32 years. I am a National Board Certified teacher in English…read moreLanguage Arts for ages 11-15. I share this to just give a little weight to my assessment of The Downtown Club. If my son or daughter needed a safe place to spend time after school, I would happily send them to The Downtown Club. The staff is very present. They not only spend time "watching" the kids, but they are actively and supportively engaged with the students. They welcome them warmly and give them clear expectations and boundaries. After school time is spent not only playing games, but doing art, having a study hall time, and enjoying snacks catered by a professionally trained chef. There are indoor and outdoor opportunities, options to play with others or to sit and read alone. The kids seem happy, they clearly know they are welcome, and they are definitely safe. I appreciate the skills of the staff and their desire to offer an exceptional and caring program. I am delighted to recommend The Downtown Club!

This event was awesome! So fun pairing different wines and chocolates, plus there was a ton of…read moreother food options. Items were tray passed around and they also had a pizza bar and quesadilla bar. Lots of people were in attendance. Such a beautiful setting with both indoor and outdoor options. The St. Barbara Event center offered expansive views of Santa Barbara from up on the mountain. Everyone in attendance was so friendly and hearing about the work STESA is doing was really heartwarming. Such an awesome organization and great way to raise awareness this evening.

The Friendship Center is joyous for the members and offers family caregivers some respite. When I…read morecared for my father, I could not relax or work if I was not 100% sure he was safe and surrounded by a staff that understood his limitations and loved him. I will be forever grateful.

A Hug, a Welcome Smile & a Day of a large Variety of Activities. This place will bring a Grin to…read moreAll ! From Music, to Movement thru Song, Dance and Inclusivity, Laughter & a Chuckle are Contagious. And then Flowers to Cheer your Day. No matter what you age, Creativity, Caring and Acknowledgement are on the Daily Menu Many Thanks to the Friends, Staff & Volunteers at Friendship Center. Our lives have been truly lifted up with joy and brightened in this safe, fun & secure environment. A Blessing for certain by any other name !!!

I'm so beyond happy to have heard of this place through word of mouth. I've been sick with a…read moremystery illness for 2.5 weeks now and was in need of a healing soup. I purchased the chicken noodle, potato leek, and also received a ginger turmeric bone broth. That bone broth was phenomenal, I have yet to try the other two. Nutrient dense, great cause, compassionate workers, this place needs more traction!

My entire family live for the soups from OSK. They put so much nutritional care into every one and…read morethey have lots of amazing choices . I have a freezer stocked with them for a quick, easy, healthy meal. I use the bone broth and tomato soup for a base for lots of my own recipes. The family that makes them do it for the health of our community. But the most important ingredient is the love they pour into every single carton.

I was spending a few days in the Santa Barbara area decompressing and found this place before I…read moreleft. They are only open to the public a couple of afternoons a week so I made a reservation to check them out. Seemed on the beaten path. Sure was. **Public can only visit with reservations on Monday or Wednesdays** The Arroyo Hondo Nature Preserve is off the US101 highway outside of Goleta. It is a tricky to find as there is very little signage and nothing indicating it from the highway. You essentially have to pull off the highway in the emergency lane to get onto the small one lane side road. There is a gate so you can only enter then they are open. At the end of the road is an old adobe building. Parking is across the bridge. I was immediately greeted at my car by staff they help manage the preserve. They gave an overview of the preserve and what is has to offer. They also hike around the preserve to check on visitors. Pretty cool. The only amenities were port-a-potties in the parking area and in gather area in the hiking area. The trails were split between used farm type roads and single/double track trails. All were maintained well. There is a stream that runs down the middle of the preserve. There are trails on both sides. There are also offshoot trails that go up to the ridge lines on either side. At the end of the creek trails, there is a steelhead trout spawning pool. The water is clear and a spring flows from a rock that you can drink from. Hiking/ walk was about 2 miles but you can add the ridgeline trails to up the mileage if desired. Price is donation which I recommend. Overall, this was a cool place for an afternoon outside. Since reservations only, a low number of people are there giving up a nice quiet experience.

The Land Trust has conservation easements and manages over 23,000 acres of pristine Santa Barbara…read moreproperty. Most of the properties are privately owned and will remain as is in perpetuity.