The following article and lead image were provided by the City of Santa Monica.
One year after its launch, the city of Santa Monica’s SaMo Bridge diversion program has exceeded initial goals, connecting hundreds of justice-involved individuals to housing, treatment and supportive services.
On May 14, the city celebrated four recent graduates in a special ceremony, recognizing program participants who successfully completed their 90-day rehabilitation plan through SaMo Bridge. The event highlighted the real-life impact of the program and honored those who have taken steps toward stability, recovery and housing.
In its first year of operation, the program has demonstrated strong early outcomes:
- 462 Police Department referrals to SaMo Bridge
- 363 individuals whostarted 90-day care coordination plans
- 233 participants who were directly connected to services, 81 percent of those were immediately placed into housing and treatment programs
- 54 program graduates eligible for citation dismissal
SaMo Bridge launched in April 2025 and was initially designed to serve approximately 260 people annually. In its first year, the program far exceeded those initial benchmarks, affirming its effectiveness in meeting community needs.
The program is fully funded through a state grant and is a collaboration between the City Attorney’s Office, Police Department, Housing and Human Services Department, and Exodus Recovery, Inc.
“These results show what is possible when we intervene early and offer people a path forward instead of cycling them through the criminal justice system,” Chief Deputy City Attorney Jenna Grigsby said. “SaMo Bridge is helping individuals stabilize, access care and make meaningful changes that benefit both them and the broader community.”
“SaMo Bridge has become an essential tool for our officers,” Police Chief Darrick Jacob said. “It allows us to respond in a way that is compassionate, effective, and addresses immediate concerns, while helping individuals access the services that reduce repeat calls for service and improve overall public safety.”
Building on early success, the city expanded SaMo Bridge in early 2026 as part of the Realignment Plan. The expansion included increased capacity at the respite hub and enhanced overnight staffing, allowing the program to serve more individuals and strengthen service delivery.
“SaMo Bridge is a critical part of our broader strategy to address homelessness with compassion,” Housing and Human Services Director Aileen Reynolds said. “By meeting people where they are and connecting them to services right away, we are creating real opportunities for long-term stability.”
The city provides regular updates on SaMo Bridge to the community at the quarterly Human Services Commission meetings.
For more information on SaMo Bridge and other city diversion programs, visit: santamonica.gov/topic-explainers/diversion-programs.
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