About Us

What is San Felipe Supported Living?

San Felipe Supported Living is a small family-guided nonprofit agency that has grown during the past 30 years to currently support 14 people with developmental challenges in their own homes. People who once might have been institutionalized are now living full and enriched lives. They venture out into the community, develop friendships and in the process learn to make more of their own decisions. 

Who came up with the original concept?

Our agency began in the late 1980s with one parent’s vision. Dave had a daughter, 18 years old at the time, diagnosed with “profound disabilities” and living in a small institution. Knowing her living options were limited, he bought a house for her in Santa Barbara.   This five-bedroom home easily accommodated five women. His daughter lived there with another woman needing support and three live-in housemates to assist the other two women Based on time spend with the Community Living Society in Vancouver, Dave believed the support component should be an governed by an organization of like-minded families.  In time, Dave realized that a small agency would create more stability for his daughter’s long term support. Throughout the years, the number of homes has slowly grown to 10. Meanwhile, our goal has always remained the same—to stay small and personal and to provide outstanding support!

Our Mission Statement

The mission of San Felipe Supported Living, Inc. (SFSL) is to assist individuals with developmental challenges and their families to achieve and sustain stable, well-supported and individually-designed living arrangements in the Santa Barbara community, one household at a time. SFSL provides support for individuals with developmental disabilities who are living in their own homes in a manner that recognizes the dignity and uniqueness of each person, enables individuals to assume, to the fullest extent possible, control over their lives, imbues self-esteem, develops a sense of personal responsibility, encourages self-expression and self-reliance, facilitates relationships with family and friends, supports full participation in their communities, and provides a safe and healthy living environment.

What goals does San Felipe constantly promote for all its residents?

San Felipe respects the uniqueness of each and every person. To honor that commitment, we ask our employed housemates to foster the following goals for all whom we serve;

·      A sense of personal responsibility.

·      Self-expression and self-reliance.

·      More active participation in their communities.

·      Improved self-esteem.

·      Greater independence.