Santa Barbara, CA – Construction on the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s (HACSB) newest affordable housing project, Vera Cruz Village, is nearing completion. Vera Cruz Village will be located at 116 E. Cota Street and is designated for special needs and homeless individuals. The Housing Authority developed this project in response to the critical need for more permanent supportive housing units in the city of Santa Barbara.
Many of the incoming residents at Vera Cruz Village will have few possessions and little to no income, which is why 2nd Story Associates, HACSB’s affiliate nonprofit, is encouraging local community members to offer additional support in the form of monetary donations through its Furnishing Hope program.
The Furnishing Hope program supports Housing Authority clients that are more vulnerable, such as seniors, disabled individuals, and those coming from homelessness, with beds and other basic household items, including Welcome Home Kits, to make their new living space truly feel like home.
“Moving into a place of one’s own can be a powerful turning point for individuals that have experienced homelessness,” said HACSB Resident Programs Supervisor, Alice Villarreal Redit. “Simple comforts, such as having a bed to sleep in and a kitchen to cook in, can help to create a restorative and stabilizing space. With additional support from the community, we can provide household essentials that will help to make each of these 28 new homes complete.”
A donation of any amount will cover the cost of providing a formerly homeless individual with essential items upon moving in such as bed linens, cookware, kitchen utensils, toiletries, etc. To learn more or make a donation, please visit: http://www.2nd-story.org/vera-cruz-court-adoptaroom
Earlier this month, The Women’s Fund provided 2nd Story Associates with a $50,000 grant to supply furniture for all 28 units at Vera Cruz Village. The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is a volunteer-led collective donor organization that enables women to combine charitable dollars into significant grants addressing the critical needs of women, children, and families in south Santa Barbara County. With this generous grant, HACSB and 2nd Story Associates will be able to provide beds, dressers, dining tables, chairs, lamps and nightstands for each unit.
Construction on the 28-unit affordable housing project is expected to be completed late summer 2023 and will feature the following:
- Regular on-site supportive services including case management and instructor-led educational and health and wellness classes available to residents free of charge.
- Free in-unit internet service.
- A full-time on-site manager to oversee the apartment complex.
- A community room for resident programs, group activities, and support groups.
- Controlled access points for entering and exiting the property.
- No parking demand for residents, reducing the traffic impact of the area.
To learn more about donation opportunities for Vera Cruz Village, please contact Alice Villarreal Redit at (805) 897-1036 or visit http://www.2nd-story.org/vera-cruz-court-adoptaroom.
About 2nd Story Associates
2nd Story Associates is a nonprofit corporation created to support the development of affordable housing and promote social services for the benefit of low-income members of the Santa Barbara community. 2nd Story creates opportunities that serve the needs of low-income households by providing Housing Authority residents with opportunities to access needed health and social services. The organization’s programs and services seek to enhance the quality of life of low-income families, seniors and disabled individuals with an emphasis on promoting stability and self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit 2nd-story.org/.
About Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is a local public agency created for the purpose of providing safe, decent, and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible persons with limited incomes, through a variety of federal, state, local and private resources. Since 1969, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara has developed and/or secured over 4,000 units of affordable rental housing for Santa Barbara through a variety of federal, state, local and private funding sources. For more information, please visit hacsb.org.
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