HASBARCO cuts ribbon on Cypress & 7th Apartments in Lompoc

LOMPOC, Calif. - A new option for affordable housing in Lompoc cut the ribbon this morning.

The Housing Authority of Santa Barbara County, or HASBARCO, has been helping those in need for 84 years. 

“In the early years, very few people had heard about us affordable housing was not really on people's radar. And over the past number of recent years, we’ve become better known and we've also had more opportunities to develop affordable housing,” says John Polanskey, HASBARCO director of housing development.

Thursday morning, they cut the ribbon on their newest complex, at Cypress & 7th in Lompoc.

“Right now we own and manage nearly 1700 units countywide,” says Polanskey. 

The mission behind this equal housing opportunity provider is to hand someone a key to their apartment as the priority, in addition to helping them stabilize and succeed further.

“We really appreciate the support that we receive from the county Board of Supervisors, city of Lompoc, for this particular project. But then also, you know, the various cities, the elected officials, that's how we get approved for what we do,” says Polanskey.

This latest addition to HASBARCO’s family of buildings includes 16 living spaces, a community center and onsite services such as counseling and career support. 

“My God, this is incredible,” says resident Maria Garcia. 

The site is already filled with grateful residents who are taking bold steps in life.

“Being able to be stable. Being able to get my mail somewhere, being able to stay out of danger. And a special thing is about being able to have my kids come over. Because before it was embarrassing. Know having them, I couldn't tell them the truth. You know, that I was staying out there. I was homeless. We want to have reunions. Especially with my grandkids,” says Garcia. 

HASBARCO is planning another ribbon cutting in a few weeks in Guadalupe.