The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara has awarded $200,000 to the Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation (SB ACT) to support the new downtown Daytime Navigation & Workforce Development Center for people experiencing homelessness.

The grant was awarded at the Women’s Fund 20th Anniversary Celebration, May 7 at the Lobero Theatre.
The center, at 621 Chapala St., is a partnership between the city of Santa Barbara and SB ACT. Center services will include housing navigation, healthcare, behavioral health services, and basic needs, five days per week.

The center will also provide a place of respite for individuals experiencing homelessness during daytime inclement weather.

The city of Santa Barbara is paying the three-year lease for 621 Chapala St. SB ACT is working with the Women’s Fund and other funders to support additional staffing and program needs, such as furniture for guests, nonperishable food items, and a flexible fund to support housing needs.The center is set to open in June.

For more information, and to RSVP for a May 29 open house, visit www.sbact.org.