Opening Doors to Recovery at New House 

As I walked into Santa Barbara New House last week, I felt like I was checking into a tropical resort. I was greeted by a smiling manager at the front desk, a big glass-fronted cooler showing off icy-cold drinks, and a friendly welcome from everyone in sight. The foyer opened toward a raised living area backlit by sunlight streaming in through glass doors and windows. Just beyond, I could see a huge outdoor patio surrounded by greenery, adding to the vacation vibe.

The house at the corner of Bath and Quinto streets is known as New House 3. The white two-story building was built in 1947 in traditional Santa Barbara Spanish style, complete with a red-tiled roof. A corner staircase flanked by vintage street lamps leads up to double-wide front doors topped by a decorative awning and curlicue wrought-iron trim.