Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara to House Veterans in our Community
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara broke ground on Veterans Housing “Johnson Court” apartments at 813 E. Carrillo Street in December 2018 to serve homeless Veterans.
The veteran target population is in keeping with the wishes of the former property owners, the Johnson family, whose father had served in the military. The aptly named “Johnson Court” will consist of 16 studio units averaging 319 square feet for very low and low income veterans. There will be a one-bedroom manager’s unit and amenities including on-site supportive services, common courtyard, community room, laundry facilities, elevators, one bike parking space per unit, and 7 parking spaces.
“While we serve veterans across our affordable Housing, Johnson Court is dedicated to serving our homeless veterans population, “said Rob Fredericks, CEO and Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. “We are proud to join with our community partners in support of our homelessness veterans who have served our country,” said Fredericks.
All units will be subsidized with Project Based Housing Choice Vouchers, making rent affordable at 30% of residents’ income. The need for affordable veteran housing is growing significantly nationwide. Local data shows that there are 210 homeless veterans on our streets – with an average age of 52.9 years, and the oldest veteran reported to be 84 years old. The proposed housing will meet the needs of veterans with special needs, disabilities, who are seniors, and any combination of these realities veterans experience. [RF1]
The supportive Service provider is New Beginnings Counseling Center. New Beginnings’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families program operates from a housing first model to help end veteran homelessness within Santa Barbara County. The program’s goal is to help veterans attain housing stability through short-term case management and financial assistance. It focuses on serving those in danger of losing their housing, and those who are homeless and need assistance in obtaining permanent, traditional housing.
Other general Partners include Garden Court, Inc., 2nd Story Associates, and the Hearthstone Housing Foundation. The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara will serve as the property manager.
About The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara: The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is a local public agency created for the purpose of providing safe, decent, and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible persons with limited incomes, through a variety of federal, state, local and private resources. Since 1969, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara has developed and/or secured over 3,400 units of affordable rental housing for Santa Barbara through a variety of federal, state, local and private funding sources. Please visit the website at www.hacsb.org.