When New Beginnings began serving Santa Barbara as a nonprofit half a century ago, providing confidential, therapeutic psychological testing, assessment, […more…]
New Beginnings Executive Director Kristine Schwarz swung into action after learning that a nursing home was about to release one […more…]
When it comes to the rampant issue of homelessness in California, there are no miracle cures or easy fixes. New […more…]
New Beginnings is holding a free virtual event featuring Annabelle Gurwitch and Julie Bowen discussing homelessness solutions on October 7 […more…]
New Beginnings is pleased to announce the addition of Sara Grasso, MFT as the agency’s first Homeless Services Director. The […more…]
New Beginnings is honored to announce its partnership with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Chapter 33-4 to provide a financial […more…]
When COVID-19 first closed down in-person meetings, everyone hurried to figure out online opportunities. But New Beginnings Counseling Center (NBCC) […more…]
While New Beginnings’ work began with its counseling services more than 50 years ago, it has grown into a countywide […more…]
New Beginnings
Matching Challenge
Through January 31st, donors are invited to match the generous $25,000 matching gift from Sandy Schoolfield and Jon Kechejian for the relocation and expansion of our south county office towards our need to raise $250,000 for this effort.
Mission
We provide mental health counseling to low-income community members and end homelessness for individuals, families, and veterans throughout Santa Barbara County. Through four core programs, we serve approximately 2,000 people each year.

www.sbnbcc.org
(805) 963-7777
Executive Director: Kristine Schwarz
Begin to Build a Relationship
We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s Director of Development and/or Executive Director.
My husband, Jon, and I believe that New Beginnings provides many vital services to the homeless and underserved mentally ill in our community through a host of successful and nationally recognized programs. They could do an even better and more efficient job if they could consolidate their outdated office space that is currently spread out in several locations into one location better designed to support their programs. Jon and I are glad to support this important initiative to help New Beginnings relocate into much needed new office space.”
One Roof
In 2023, New Beginnings plans to centralize its main office and bring three locations under one roof in Santa Barbara. To do that, the nonprofit will need a commercial landlord willing to rent to an agency that works with veterans, the homeless, and people struggling with mental illness, and financial assistance from generous donors totaling $250,000.
Donations are also always needed to cover things government assistance won’t, like appliances, beds, medical assistive devices, renter’s application fees, renter’s insurance, and more. New Beginnings Executive Director Kristine Schwarz’s other major ask is an appeal to landlords and property managers to help serve the unhoused by making units available for them to rent and live in.
“We need landlords and property managers to work with us,” Schwarz says, noting that they have dozens of people housed all over the county who they provide supportive housing retention services for on a daily basis.
New Beginnings reaches out to provide services to members of our community who most need a hand. One of their innovative programs is Safe Parking. My late husband Gary encouraged New Beginnings to write a manual that outlined the details of the program with the intent of sharing it with other cities. That manual and Safe Parking has now gone far beyond Santa Barbara, and is helping hundreds of people. I am pleased to support New Beginnings and all its good works.
Key Supporters
Jacqueline Kurta
President
Dan Engel
Vice President
Ziad Elkurjie
Treasurer
Mark Cardona
Secretary
Steve Baird
Member
Stasia Huiner
Member
Kathryn Keene
Member
Karen Kelly
Member
Diane Pannkuk
Member
Warren B. Ritter II
Member