DignityMoves plans fourth housing facility with childcare center in Santa Barbara County

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Since the opening of La Posada in Santa Barbara, residents are finding stability in their lives. 

“It’s really, really exciting. I am here to tell you that we have never had a successful encampment cleanup in the history of DignityMoves," said regional advancement director Jack Lorenz of DignityMoves.

In a matter of days, La Posada has successfully housed those who used to live in encampments near the 101 freeway.

"Hoped to get 25 to 30 of those folks to agree to come in to the village … and every single person excepted a room … the encampment above this village is officially closed empty and gone," said Lorenz.

Residents at La Posada are focusing on their mental health, addiction recovery, career exploration and stable housing solutions.

Now DignityMoves is planning a fourth housing facility, and its first to include a childcare center, thanks to a $125,000 grant from the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara.

“We’re excited about this new grant that will provide a childcare facility in a brand new site family Village site," said board member Kerry Parker of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara.

“It’s gonna be very different for us because this is the first time that all of the units will have bedrooms, restrooms, and kitchen and dining room," said Jack Lorenz.

Right now, Dignity Moves is closing in on a location for the new housing facility in Santa Barbara.

“The children have needs as well and so they’ll be able to live in the family village, and they’ll also be able to take advantage of the childcare service," said Parker.

The DignityMoves team plans to include 30 two-bedroom units in the new family village.

"We’re just figuring out how much it’s going to cost and once we have those two pieces of information we’re going to hit the ground running and break ground," said Lorenz.

The new facility will be built in the Santa Barbara area.

The exact location has not yet been disclosed.