Housing Crisis Committee hosts workshop in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- Santa Barbara is currently not affordable for anyone at any income level.

A full house turned out for a community workshop at the Cabrillo Pavilion hosted by city of Santa Barbara's Housing Crisis Ad Hoc Committee(HCC).

"I'm here to be educated on the workshops and the education available for folks that are renters in the community," said Soila Cabrera.

The grass roots leader and renter lives with her daughter and said she pays more than 50% of her income on rent.

Community Developement Director Eli Isaacson considers that rent burden.

"We also know just through lived experience that those who are spending 30 % or more are really struggling to cover expenses, food, clothing, medical."

Committee members shared information from recents surveys showing some two bedrooms rent going for $4,000 a month and three bedrooms for $5600 a month in the city of Santa Barbara.

The survey found a majority of households making less than $100,000.

Daraka Larimore-Hall who works with the UCSB Community Labor Project kept an eye on his baby, Ada, during the meeting.

"We are living in the neighborhood I grew up in and I would love for Ada to be able to grow up in the same place and that is not going to be possible if we don't do something about the out of control rents in the city," said Larimore-Hall.

Renters, homeowners, and housing providers shared their take-aways from break-out sessions after a PowerPoint presentation.

Many participants disagreed on rent control and ballot measures linked to them, but most agree they would like to see Santa Barbara City College build on-campus student housing.

They would also like to see public-private partnerships that will help businesses build workforce housing.

"Santa Barbara has always been a historically expensive community to live in," said Isaacson, "I think there is hope, events like tonight are important to find solutions to address our ongoing housing challenges."

About 40 people took part in the meeting via Zoom.

They took part in public comments before closing remarks.

For more special meeting agenda and information visit https://www.santabarbaraca-gov.zoon/survey