Escalante Meadows in Guadalupe has received the Sterling Achievement Award from the Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA), the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO) has announced.

“This national recognition highlights Escalante Meadows as a model for innovation and impact in affordable housing and supportive services,” HASBARCO said.

Escalante Meadows completed a Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion of public housing to become permanent supportive housing for veterans, households experiencing homelessness, and other vulnerable individuals.

The development provides a total of 80 units, including three Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) units, nine RAD units, and 63 Section 8 units.

Through creative problem-solving and collaboration, the Escalante Meadows team overcame significant engineering, architectural and environmental challenges to bring this vision to life, HASBARCO said.

“This was a nationwide competition, and we are deeply honored to be recognized among the best in the country,” said Bob Havlicek, executive director of HASBARCO. “Escalante Meadows is a testament to the dedication of our team, our partners, and the Guadalupe community. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

The project’s success demonstrates the power of leveraging federal Housing Trust Fund (HTF) dollars and California’s Housing for a Healthy California Program to create permanent supportive housing for those who are chronically homeless, according to HASBARCO.

Escalante Meadows has also been recognized by state and federal partners, including the California Department of Housing & Community Development and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for its innovation and positive community impact.