Tag: Vera Cruz Village

2nd Story Associates Seeking ‘Furnishing Hope’ Donations for New Affordable Housing Project: Vera Cruz Village

Construction on the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s (HACSB) newest affordable housing project, Vera Cruz Village, is nearing completion. Vera Cruz Village will be located at 116 E. Cota Street and is designated for special needs and homeless individuals. The Housing Authority developed this project in response to the critical need for more permanent supportive housing units in the city of Santa Barbara. 

Many of the incoming residents at Vera Cruz Village will have few possessions and little to no income, which is why 2nd Story Associates, HACSB’s affiliate nonprofit, is encouraging local community members to offer additional support in the form of monetary donations through its Furnishing Hope program.

Housing Authority City of Santa Barbara Groundbreaking for Vera Cruz Village housing complex taking place Dec. 15

The Housing Authority City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is pleased to announce that the ground breaking ceremony for Vera Cruz Village, at 116 East Cota Street, will take place on Wednesday, December 15th at 10 a.m. HACSB officials, Mayor Cathy Murrillo, Alejandra Gutierrez, Santa Barbara 1st District City Council Member, Oscar Gutierrez, Santa Barbara 3rd District City Council Member, a representative forCongressman Salud Carbajal and other dignitaries will be onsite with shovels in hand to participate in the official ceremonial launch of the project. Vera Cruz Village represents the HACSB’s latest affordable housing project designated for special needs and homeless individuals in the community. People experiencing homelessness have high rates of chronic mental and physical health conditions, co- occurring disorders, and barriers to receiving health care. Santa Barbara continues to grapple with adequately addressing this issue. The most recent Point-in-Time count completed in January 2020 found 1,897 homeless residents countywide, with 914 (48%) living in the City of Santa Barbara. The chronically homeless in the county rose from 423 to 614, a 45% increase (Santa Barbara County Point in Time Count 2020).