As homelessness rises across the state, Goleta has taken a major step toward providing housing with the official opening of Buena Tierra.

Local and state officials gathered Thursday to celebrate the opening of Buena Tierra with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The building, which used to be a Super 8 motel, is Goleta’s first permanent supportive housing development and houses 60 residents.

“The theme for this development really is collaboration, commitment and caring,” said Bob Havlicek, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara.

The housing development is Goleta’s latest attempt to address the issue of homelessness in the city. The homeless services coordinator in partnership with Continuum of Care documented 204 homeless individuals in Goleta. 121 individuals were in encampments, 57 were in shelters, and 26 were living in vehicles.

The new housing development will offer a place for people to live while they get back on their feet. Along with an apartment, the site provides access to caseworkers, food and medical programs, support groups and more.  

Johnny Watkins, one of the residents of Buena Tierra, said he was living in his car before he was accepted into the program.

Watkins was part of the second wave of applicants and has been living at the complex since May.

When Watkins first heard of the housing development, he was unsure of whether it was real, or what it would be like.  

“I was a little nervous and excited at the same time,” Watkins told Noozhawk. “And then I started thinking about things that I would need for the place, and when I got here, and they showed me my apartment [and] everything I can think about was already there waiting for me. It was a wonderful feeling.”

Watkins also explained that Buena Tierra gives him a sense of security. In his new apartment, he knows he has a bed where he can relax, a stove where he can cook his own meals, and a place where he can store fresh produce.

“No matter what goes on throughout the day, the idea that I can come home to my own place and be at peace with myself, that, to me, was the most important thing,” Watkins said.

Not only does it provide him with stability, Watkins said, but he can now focus on other issues and improve his quality of life.

Thursday’s event was attended by Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte, Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, Councilman James Kyriaco, and county Supervisors Joan Hartmann and Laura Capps. Representing Gov. Gavin Newsom was Hafsa Kaka, the senior adviser on homelessness for his office.

Backed by a sign that read, “The only cure for homelessness is housing,” Havlicek acknowledged all the different people and organizations who contributed to the project.

One of the challenges he mentioned was that the building itself is in the city of Goleta, but the parking lot is in the city of Santa Barbara. That means the building had to go through two different planning departments before it was approved.

Hartmann praised Goleta for its efforts bringing the project to fruition and offering more than a home, but a place where “residents can rebuild their lives with dignity.”

Speaking for Newsom, Kaka said the state is dedicated to working with local communities. She also announced that on Wednesday, the governor awarded local governments $130 million to create housing for homeless families.

“We are proud to stand with local partners who are serving their communities by providing much-needed housing to alleviate homelessness,” she said.