New Life Community Services (NLCS) exists to provide effective reality-based substance abuse treatment services for individuals and families supporting their transition into society and living meaningful and productive lives. We emphasize the whole person utilizing the most effective substance abuse treatment strategies, with a commitment to the 12-step fellowship strength-based model, with compassionate care is designed to restore health and wellness, treating each person with dignity and respect. We offer residential substance abuse treatment services through our variable stay of 6-months or longer programs. Fees are sliding-scale base on income. Our program is designed to accommodate a full-time work schedule for clients who are employed in the community. All of our staff are either certified or registered through the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors and we also have many Marriage and Family Therapists on staff to provide marriage, family, child or couples counseling. Clients are required to either get a job (35-40hrs/wk), job searching, doing community services, or attending school during the day. NLCS is designed to accommodate both clients and their children, if needed. Children are welcome at no additional charge with parents in treatment. However, the client is fully responsible for the care of their child(ren).

History
Established in 1972.

New Life Center opened as a non-profit shelter and residential addiction treatment program by a group of concerned citizens who were looking for effective ways to deal with the homeless, abused, dispossessed and chemically dependent. It is the oldest combined program in the County of Santa Cruz. Initial housing was done in private homes with the current main facilities opening in 1974. Over the years the program has expanded to provide a wide range of support needs (including licensed treatment, education, increased case management, cross cultural services as well as additional beds and facilities to name just a few) for the homeless and addicted people with the goal of re-entering clients into the social mainstream.