Santa Barbara police say they have become more "proactive" in patrolling the 800 block of Cacique Street, which has seen an uptick in homeless-related calls for services. | Credit: Courtesy

This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.


The area surrounding Cacique Street on Santa Barbara’s Eastside has emerged as a hotspot for homeless-related calls for service, with residents and employees saying they have witnessed an uptick in open drug use and trading, physical fights, and dangerous mental-health episodes in the area in recent months.

A snapshot of data from the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) shows that homeless-related calls for service to the 800 block of Cacique Street between January and August have increased by 14 percent from 2023 to 2024. These calls generally deal with “nuisance-related crimes and drug issues in the area,” said Sergeant Bryan Kerr, a spokesperson with the SBPD.

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