Santa Barbara County Housing Authority to receive nearly $19 million from state for permanent supportive housing
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced $70 million in awards for six new Homekey projects throughout the state, including $19 million to acquire and rehabilitate a motel in Goleta to use as permanent supportive housing.
“Homekey is proof that we can solve homelessness,” said Newsom. “We’ve swiftly created safer places to live for thousands of unhoused individuals throughout the last two years and today’s awards continue that progress.”
The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara is set to receive nearly $19 million to acquire a 61-unit motel in central Goleta, according to the Governor's Office. The motel, located at the Super 8 hotel on 6021 Hollister Ave., will be rehabilitated and used as permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness, and homeless youth or youth at risk of homelessness.
"This is the culmination of what has been a massive effort on the part of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara to secure this much-needed state funding with assistance from the county and the city of Goleta," said Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte.
"We are pleased to serve as a financial contributor and supporter of this exemplary project. This proposed development will play a big part locally to help address the human and societal problem of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.”
The Governor's Office said that the project will provide on-site wrap-around supportive services and "ample space for indoor and outdoor services."
The project is proposed to include 59 permanent supportive housing units, one unit to house an onsite property manager and five existing units that will be converted to community space, according to city spokeswoman Kelly Hoover.
The five other projects awarded money are located in Berkeley, Arcata, Lancaster, Los Angeles County, and Klamath in Del Norte County.
When all the projects are fully operational, they will provide 232 units for people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Since Newsom extended Homekey by $2.75 billion last year, the state has approved 55 projects that will create 3,195 housing units for homeless individuals.
Newsom said that additional awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
