In preparation for its predicted late January/early February opening, Hope Village, a DignityMoves interim housing site in Santa Barbara County, is initiating its Adopt-A-Room program.
Volunteer community members can sponsor one of 94 rooms by providing toiletries, comfort items, and welcome gifts for future residents. Hope Village is in Santa Maria at the intersection of Centerpoint Parkway, Lakeside Parkway and Southside Parkway.
The project is designed to provide dignified, safe housing for unhoused individuals, bridging the gap between living on the streets and qualifying for permanent housing.
Pets and partners are welcome to room together at the site, a distinct difference between Hope Village and traditional sheltered housing.
With 24/7 staffing by Good Samaritan, an organization that connects clients with mental-health care, addiction services, job placement resources, and stable housing, the location is seen as a step towards ending homelessness in Santa Barbara County.
Adopt-A-Room asks volunteers to provide the following items for their adopted room(s):
Sheets (fitted and flat) for a twin bed, and two pillowcases
Two sleeping pillows
Duvet cover and duvet insert (twin)
Colorful throw pillows
Fleece blanket
Small trash can
Small washable area rug (3×5 or 4×4)
Storage bins
Welcome basket with toiletries and other treats
Shower towel and hand towel
Command hooks (with removable adhesive) for hand towel
Bathrobe and slippers
Shower caddy (showers are nearby)
Outdoor plant and pot for ront doorstep (drought-resistant)
Handwritten welcome note telling occupant the room has been decorated by a fellow community member who cares about them
Anything else that would make the room welcoming
Each room is provided with a bed frame, mattress and mattress pad, dresser, chair and lamp.
Hope Village addresses a key need in Santa Barbara County where lack of available housing, the high cost of existing homes, a shortage of land, and a lack of new construction make it one of the most challenging locations in the country for people experiencing homelessness to find housing, DignityMoves said.
In a single year, nearly 3,500 people in Santa Barbara County may be unhoused for a period of time, far outnumbering the available beds in shelters and affordable housing sites.
To address the needs of the county’s most vulnerable populations, Hope Village will reserve 10 rooms for transition-age youth ages 18-24; 30 recuperative care rooms for individuals being discharged from the hospital; and 10 rooms for veterans.
Moving forward, DignityMoves plans to build three more interim housing sites in Santa Barbara.
To participate in the Adopt-A-Room program at Hope Village, contact Jack Lorenz at jack@dignitymoves.org.
For about DignityMoves, visit www.dignitymoves.org.