Transitions / Formerly Incarcerated: Support

List of local housing, food, education, legal, and other free community resources. You can also call the 211 Helpline – dial 211 from a phone for referrals to services throughout Santa Barbara County.

The mission of the Transitions Program is to provide access to higher education to individuals released from the California criminal justice system, and create a smooth transition from prison to the community college.

Freedom 4 Youth partners with UCSB, Santa Barbara City College, the Workforce Investment Board of Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara County Probation Department, and other community partners at-large, to provide both the individual and family re-entry support services and case management in a community setting. Youth are supported to define their own education and career pathway and develop an individual action plan with measurable goals for independent living and a drug-free lifestyle.

Article about Africana Studies professor Joy James, who spoke at UCSB on mass incarceration and higher education.

Article from UCSB's Daily Nexus about Underground Scholars programs and the path, after prison, from community college to University of California.

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is an award winning local public agency that provides safe, decent, and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible persons with limited incomes.

New Beginnings’ Safe Parking Shelter and Rapid Rehousing Program provides safe overnight parking to individuals and families living in their vehicle.

Support groups for anger management, anxiety, interpersonal skills, women, veterans, parenting, and more. Some groups are bilingual.

Resources, news, research, and more.

A toolkit designed to assist California’s community colleges and Sheriff’s Departments build partnerships to provide college education inside county jails.

Resources, policy, research, and webinars on reentry topics from education and employment to housing and social justice.

Information and resources about prison education and reentry education programs for students. For teachers and professionals, see technical assistance under "What We Do," for training and program development opportunities.

Forever Rooted is DPN’s leadership development series geared towards people coming home from prison that uses listening, story-telling, and facilitation skills to amplify the leadership and empowerment of formerly incarcerated people.

"Haymarket Books is committed to making our books available for free to people who are incarcerated. In an effort to support those inside who are dealing with the immense violence of the prison system we want to do what we can to connect people with radical books and opportunities for political education." Website includes a link to request books for a friend or loved one who is incarcerated.