SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) has received two Awards of Merit from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) during the 2024 NAHRO National Conference. These distinguished awards recognize HACSB’s dedication to the local community, showcasing its innovative approaches to affordable housing and its impactful programs aimed at supporting youth.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara launched its “Preparación, Bienestar y Cultura” (Preparation, Wellbeing and Culture) free four-week summer program for Housing Authority youth entering grades 9 -12.
The program provides focused activities that promote educational opportunities, social-emotional support, and cultural awareness. The program allows students to participate in a variety of field trips, earn community service hours, participate in college tours, as well as receive a free backpack and school supplies.
“Our main purpose of our agency is to provide housing, but we think it needs to be so much more than that for families to succeed so this provides us a great opportunity to be able to do that,” said HACSB Resident Program Specialist, Hector Avila.
“We are proud of our long-standing partnership with the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation and appreciate their commitment to developing meaningful enrichment programs for local youth,” said HACSB Resident Programs Supervisor, Alice Villarreal Redit. “CASA Camp exposes Housing Authority youth to historic sites throughout the County, enabling kids to increase their knowledge of local history while engaging in fun, hands-on activities.”
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara will honor 17 graduates who have completed the organization’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program with a ceremony and dinner.
36-year-old Cindy Abrajan, who has lived in Santa Barbara her whole life, is one of the FSS graduates and is grateful for the support she has received with her financial and career goals.
SANTA BARBARA — State Street Commercial Space transitioned on Nov. 17 to Workforce Housing with 14 residential studio apartments in Public-Private Partnership.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s innovative Workforce Housing Program is designed to address the affordable housing needs of our community’s low to moderate income workforce who are increasingly caught in the gap between skyrocketing rents and ineligibility for other assistance.
The Housing Authority is committed to providing affordable housing to make it possible for more people to live where they work, in Santa Barbara. This approach benefits people who can keep transportation and other costs to a minimum, and have more time to spend with family, education, or career development. And benefits us all by minimizing the impact of commuting on our environment and quality of life in Santa Barbara.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara proudly announces that its Executive Director/CEO, Rob L. Fredericks, has been installed as a NAHRO Fellow by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at its National Conference in New Orleans, LA. This prestigious recognition underscores Mr. Fredericks’ longstanding commitment to enhancing housing conditions and fostering sustainability for the Santa Barbara community.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) hosted its monthly Healthy Food Pantry event on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Presidio Springs Community Room located at 721 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA. The Healthy Food Pantry events are a collaboration between HACSB, 2nd Story Associates, and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, who provides the supply of food.
Every third Wednesday of the month, the Housing Authority and Foodbank of Santa Barbara County provide local community members with a bag of fresh produce and nonperishables. Approximately 145 bags of food are given out at each event.
??”Food insecurity is still prevalent in our community and it is a fundamental need in Santa Barbara. The Housing Authority’s monthly food distribution aims to fill that necessity and continue to provide this important resource to those experiencing a hardship,” said Leticia Zuniga, HACSB Resident Programs Specialist.
United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) and the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) partner up to provide helpful services & resources to residents throughout Santa Barbara County for tax season. Tax season is here and low to moderate income Santa Barbara County residents are invited to take advantage of putting more money back in their pockets with the help of UWSBC’s and HACSB’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
HACSB started the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for Housing Authority clients twenty years ago in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Approximately thirteen years ago, HACSB partnered with UWSBC and formed the Financial Empowerment Partnership. Since UWSBC took over the management of the program, the two organizations have worked together to broaden its impact, serving more residents countywide. Since inception, the program has grown to seven VITA sites and ten community partners: Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, United Way Santa Barbara County, AARP, UC Santa Barbara, Immigrant Hope, People Helping People, Carpinteria Children’s Project, Santa Barbara Public Library, County of Santa Barbara and John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY).
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) will host a visit and tour with HUD Region IX Administrator, Jason Pu on October 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Former San Gabriel City Councilmember Jason Pu was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Region IX, covering the areas of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, American Samoa and the Mariana Islands. He plays a key role in leading a distribution of housing assistance funds and will oversee field offices to ensure that local communities benefit directly from HUD programs and funding.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) announces a limited waitlist opening for its Section 8 Voucher Program. The waitlist will be open from Monday, May 2, 2022 to June 1, 2022.
Section 8 Vouchers are issued to qualifying applicants allowing them to choose a unit to rent from private landlords. Participants pay a portion of their income toward rent, directly to the landlord, and the remainder of the contract rent is paid to the landlord by the Housing Authority.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is honoring two Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program graduates who used the stability of subsidized housing to build the skills and assets needed to become financially independent. Anna Carranco and Iris Manzanarez have worked hard over the last five years to achieve the goals they set for themselves, completing the program this year despite the global pandemic.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara honored Foodbank of Santa Barbara County as their 2020 Outstanding Community Partner of the Year. The Housing Authority created its annual partner award as a way of recognizing and thanking organizations and businesses that help change lives for the better. The supportive services provided to clients through such partners as Foodbank are an essential part of the Housing Authority’s holistic service delivery approach.
When looking back on 2020, there hasn’t been much good news to report. 2020 will go down in history as an epic global disaster in many respects—most notably, in terms of public health and the economy. We are in the middle of yet another COVID-19 pandemic surge and as the contagion strengthens its hold, employment opportunities continue to weaken and housing threatened. Some businesses are temporarily closed, hunkering down to ride out the storm, while others – in food, hospitality, entertainment and personal care services – are shuttered for good. Here at home and across the nation, the number of people living in poverty has grown by eight million since May, according to researchers at Columbia University’s Center on Poverty & Social Policy.
As America battles COVID-19, low-income individuals, families, seniors and those with special needs – people considered our most vulnerable citizens – are bearing the brunt of the ensuing economic fallout. The trickle-down effect of unemployment, standing at more than 14.7 % or 36.5 million workers applying for unemployment benefits over the last two months, directly impacts tenants who can’t pay full rent and landlords, many of which have mortgages on their rental properties. This negative trend is hitting home right now in Santa Barbara and elsewhere.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority Of The City Of Santa Barbara (HACSB) on Feb. 14 came together with the community to celebrate the grand opening of Johnson Court – the first housing development in Santa Barbara County specifically for…
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…
SANTA BARBARA — Hundreds of residents got to know more about local affordable housing options, grooved to live music and had a bite to eat at Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) and its affiliated nonprofit 2nd…
SANTA BARBARA — With a daughter to care for, Silvia Alvarez found herself in a tough spot when she lost her job. Uncertain about her next move, Alvarez turned to her Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara case…
SANTA BARBARA — Elected officials and development partners joined the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Oct. 8 to break ground on Johnson Court, a 16-unit apartment development on Carrillo Street for very-low and low-income veterans. When completed…
SANTA BARBARA — Local landlords recently got a preview of the suite of all-new and ongoing incentives to participate in the Section 8 affordable housing program through the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB). Attendees of the…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) and the League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara welcomed residents to a special voter registration drive on Sept. 25 as part of National Voter Registration Day.…
SANTA BARBARA — Thanks to a generous donation from the local branch of Union Bank, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) and its nonprofit affiliate 2nd Story Associates recently presented approximately 400 school-age children with backpacks…
SANTA BARBARA — With nearly 40 percent of the County’s senior population being economically insecure, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) broke ground July 30 on The Gardens on Hope, a 90-unit development for frail, low-income seniors. Project partners…
SANTA BARBARA — On Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018, Americans will celebrate National Voter Registration Day with a massive 50-state effort to register voters before Election Day this November. The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is teaming…
SANTA BARBARA — For the first time in four years, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) will re-open applications for Section 8 affordable housing vouchers. Local landlords are key to the success of the program and…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is pleased to announce its purchase of Garden Court on De La Vina, preserving the affordability of 97 studio units for low-income seniors in Santa Barbara. Located…
SANTA BARBARA — Two affordable housing projects being developed by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara have been allocated $21.3 million in tax credit financing to create 107 affordable rental units for veterans and seniors. The Housing…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) honored New Beginnings Counseling Center as its 2017 Outstanding Community Partner of the Year at a recent ceremony. New Beginnings provides short-term case management services to HACSB…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) has received a $203,425 grant from the U.S. Department of Urban Development (HUD) to help low-income residents become self-sufficient through its Family Self-Sufficiency Program. HACSB developed the…
SANTA BARBARA — The former site of the iconic Grace Lutheran Church re-opened on March 12 as the completed Grace Village Apartments, bringing 58 critically-needed affordable housing units for low-income seniors. Local officials and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the completion…
SANTA BARBARA — At 43, James Coronado is on the road to advancing his career in education, having recently earned his master’s degree from Antioch University. And surrounded by his wife and children, Coronado celebrated yet another graduation Oct. 19…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is pleased to announce that Dave Gustafson and Patricia “Pat” Wheatley have been appointed to its Board of Commissioners. As retired Housing and Redevelopment Manager and Assistant Community…
2nd Story Associates and Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara host back-to-school event and announce new initiative SANTA BARBARA — Thanks to a generous donation from the local branch of Union Bank, the Housing Authority of the City of…
Pearl Gardens is one of two affordable family housing properties that the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara recently completed. SANTA BARBARA — As an early adopter of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program designed…
SANTA BARBARA – Hundreds of community members and families came through a free Community Health Fair sponsored by The Health Access and Care Coordination Project on Saturday, Feb. 25 to take part in a variety of services, from screenings to…
SANTA BARBARA — After 113 years in the Santa Barbara community, Grace Lutheran Church began a new chapter on Jan. 5 with a groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction of Grace Village, a new housing community for low-income seniors. Held…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) celebrated the 10th Anniversary of El Carrillo, the first development of its kind in Santa Barbara to offer permanent, affordable housing with supportive services for homeless individuals.…
SANTA BARBARA — The young members of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s Teen Night program recently hosted an innovative event to address what they had identified as the most pressing challenge for Santa Barbara teens – information…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara recently invited community leaders and partners to celebrate the renovation kick-off for the Pearl Gardens and Sycamore Gardens family housing properties with a tour of old and newly…
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, community leaders and invited guests celebrated the grand opening – and ahead-of-schedule completion – of the Bradley Studios, the organization reported in a media release. Since January, the Housing…
