Community Helps Decorate New Veteran Housing

By edhat staff

Community members joined the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) to help decorate and furnish studio apartments for veterans this weekend.

Johnson Court, located at 813 E. Carrillo Street, contains 16 studio units that will be dedicated to housing veterans coming from homelessness. This keeps with the wishes of the former property owners, the Johnson family, whose father had served in the military. Each studio averages 319 square feet for very low and low-income veterans. There is a one-bedroom manager’s unit and amenities including on-site supportive services, common courtyard, community room, laundry facilities, elevators, one bike parking space per unit, and 7 parking spaces.

The Santa Barbara Foundation donated household goods and furnishings for each studio. During a “Day of Service” on Saturday, local volunteers set up and arranged each of the room with the donations to prepare for the resident’s move in. 

“While we serve veterans across our affordable Housing, Johnson Court is dedicated to serving our homeless veterans population, “said Rob Fredericks, CEO and Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. “We are proud to join with our community partners in support of our homelessness veterans who have served our country,” said Fredericks.

All units will be subsidized with Project-Based Housing Choice Vouchers, making rent affordable at 30% of residents’ income. Local data shows there are 210 homeless veterans on our streets – with an average age of 52.9 years, and the oldest veteran reported to be 84 years old. The proposed housing will meet the needs of veterans with special needs, disabilities, who are seniors, and any combination of these realities veterans experience.

The supportive service provider is New Beginnings Counseling Center who operates from a housing first model to help end veteran homelessness. The program’s goal is to help veterans attain housing stability through short-term case management and financial assistance. It focuses on serving those in danger of losing their housing, and those who are homeless and need assistance in obtaining permanent, traditional housing.

Other general partners include Garden Court, Inc., 2nd Story Associates, and the Hearthstone Housing Foundation. The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara will serve as the property manager.

Johnson Court is expected to open later this month.