Storyteller provides quality, tuition-free early childhood education for homeless and at-risk children, including whole-family support.

Astonishingly, one in five children in Santa Barbara County lives in poverty and for every three children needing childcare, there is only one licensed space available regardless of ability to pay. For every child who attends Storyteller, another must be placed on its waiting list, which consistently ranges from 50 to 80 children. This grant will help establish a second school located at 2121 De La Vina Street, just two blocks away from Storyteller's current site and will serve an additional 50 children ages 18 months through 5 years.

Homelessness is a priority for enrollment. All preschoolers are low-income and 70% are in single-parent households. Nearly half of the children have experienced domestic violence within their families or have parents in recovery programs for substance abuse