James M. Cox Foundation donates $100,000 to DignityMoves
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Construction is moving quickly for Dignitymoves’ latest project La Posada in Santa Barbara.
"So right now is getting these 80 units built. You can see to my to my right into the end to my left. We’re under construction right now. These units are gonna be up and running," said regional advancement director Jack Lorenz of DignityMoves.
DignityMoves’ Santa Barbara Capital Campaign has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation.
The Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications.
“Along with the grant, we’re gonna be providing services up to this facility and we want to be that technical partner that provides whatever is needed in the communities," said representative Carl Givens of Cox Enterprises.
"I am just blown away we work really really hard to be good neighbors and we work really hard to have community support and have $100,000 gift from somebody like the Cox Foundation really says a lot it’s it it really opens doors for other corporate sponsors to show up and help our work," said Lorenz.
The grant will allow DignityMoves to build five additional units at La Posada
Crew workers with DignityMoves say construction is on schedule despite recent rainstorm.
“You know because of the rain we had a little bit of a delay, and some construction hiccups along the way, but we’re pretty close to right on schedule," said Lorenz.
The organization is raising funds to build a total of 300 units across four sites, three in South County and one in North County.
“My hope is to see individuals utilize this facilities to help them get on their feet and be strong community members in our community here locally," said Givens.
"My hope is that we will be able to clear it to clear all the encampments along the river bed and rabbit tracks that are directly behind me. There are 870 to 80 people there and we’re gonna be able to offer every single one of them housing something many of them haven’t had for decades," said Lorenz.
Construction of La Posada is expected to be completed in April of 2024.
“DignityMoves is honored to be the recipient of a James M. Cox Foundation grant. We are incredibly grateful for this type of community support. Without partners like Cox, we cannot help as many people as we do,” said Lorenz.
DignityMoves has an ambitious yet realistic goal to end homelessness in Santa Barbara County.
The goal is to reach all unhoused individuals over the course of 18 months as residents matriculate out of the program and others move in.
The organization builds interim supportive housing for unsheltered individuals for a six-to-12-month period as a stopover between being homeless and permanent housing.
Everyone is housed in a private, furnished room with Wi-Fi, AC and heating, a door that locks, bathroom and showers, laundry facilities, and a food service area and kitchen.
Concurrently, tenants receive intensive wraparound supportive services to help get them back on their feet.
This includes onsite case management and small offices for other services including medical and mental health support, drug counseling, and career development.
Each resident has a specific program designed for them and their individual needs.
“At Cox, we are committed to empowering our employees and communities to build a better future for the next generation. We are thrilled to do just that and support the transformational work of DignityMoves through this generous gift from the Foundation,” said Kirsten McLaughlin, Market Vice President for Cox Communications in Santa Barbara.
La Posada Village, at 4500 Hollister Avenue, will house individuals living in encampments in the immediate area, particularly along the 101 Freeway and train tracks.
This community will have 80 rooms, provide 24/7 security, intensive case management for each resident, three meals a day, and mental and physical health care services.
The facility is slated to open its doors to residents by April 2024.
About DignityMoves
DignityMoves works to end unsheltered street homelessness in communities through the construction of Interim Supportive Housing as a rapid, cost-effective, scalable solution. Using innovative approaches such as prefabricated materials and modular housing, DignityMoves takes advantage of vacant parking lots or other underutilized sites to build temporary “pop-up” communities which can be relocated, as necessary. DignityMoves also develops permanent sites such as those funded by California’s Project Homekey program. For information on bringing a DignityMoves community to your city, or to donate to this work, please visit
