A retrospective of 2019 accomplishments by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) during its 50th anniversary year, highlights the organization’s achievements.
The agency was created to provide safe, decent and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible people with limited incomes, through a variety of federal, state, local and private resources.
The last 12 months’ progress documents the agency’s relentless pursuit to implement innovative solutions to help solve Santa Barbara’s affordable housing shortage for families, workforce, seniors and those with special needs.
The year’s highlights includes:
» The successful management of some 4,000 total affordable rental housing units for Santa Barbara.
» Creation of the HACSB new 5-Year Action Plan that is committed to long-range planning to ensure affordable housing is available to a broad cross-section of the community, including the homeless.
» The purchase of 200 N. La Cumbre Road, a 1.34-acre parcel. The long-term goal is to redevelop the property as the next HACSB affordable housing development.
» Expansion of the Housing Authority’s innovative Workforce Housing Program to assist families who make up to 160 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, this equates to $160,480 annually.
» The award of 30 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, from the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program that combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services.
» The award of 49 Mainstream Housing Choice vouchers from HUD to provide rental assistance to homeless and disabled individuals.
» Approval as a Mobile Food Pantry site for Foodbank that allows it to host monthly distributions for Housing Authority clients.
» Second Annual Housing Santa Barbara Day, a fair with the theme of Healthy Families, Thriving Communities sponsored in part by HACSB’s affiliate nonprofit 2nd Story Associates.
» Sixth annual Tools For School event funded by Union Bank, distributing some 450 backpacks to low-income children, providing 100 vision screenings, 220 school supply kits for K-6 students and 180 kits for 7th-12th graders.
» Resident services offerings to strengthen families and individuals. The Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) had 145 participants and 8 graduates; Healthy Food Pantry provided 270 pounds of food to 26 households in need; Home Energy Assistance Program provided 30 families with $8,000 in utility credits; the Advocate Health Program served 300 clients; Unity Shoppe collaboration supported 300 clients; Higher Education Scholarships were awarded to first-generation college students attending UC Irvine, UCSB and CSU Northridge.
The strong framework of HACSB housing offerings, educational programs and social services for their clients, and community partners in public and private sectors, serve as the foundation required to reach this year’s goals.
The agency is looking forward to opening the doors to two new affordable housing developments:
» Johnson Court, 813 E. Carrillo St., will provide 16 studio units with supportive services for homeless veterans.
» The Gardens on Hope property, 251 S. Hope Ave., will be service-enriched affordable housing providing three meals a day, housekeeping, help with activities of daily living, as well as a host of social programs, with 89 units to support Santa Barbara’s frail seniors.
Additionally, HACSB is working to expand partnerships with Santa Barbara landlords through their Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. To learn more about HACSB, programs and housing, visit hacsb.org.