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2007 was an incredible year for the Housing Authority. We accomplished a great deal on many fronts. Excellence in customer service continues to be a core value. And our “customers” includes many—from the Santa Barbara tax payer to the mentally ill homeless person. Serving both of them by ending homelessness through collaborative endeavors was our focus through much of 2007. This will continue in 2008.
During the past year, we made profound in-roads to solving one of our community’s and nation’s most difficult and protracted housing equations—housing with support services for disabled, homeless individuals. These individuals come from all walks of life. Many are veterans of our great Nation. In structuring our response to the growing crisis of homelessness, the Housing Authority delivered much-needed housing and services to the chronically homeless through its development and opening of El Carrillo in late 2006. Over the past year, we have learned what it takes to provide quality housing with support services for this most troubled segment of our citizenry. We are proud to say that we have exceeded our wildest dreams. And this is not because El Carrillo’s architectural beauty and underlying planning principles have earned us numerous state and national awards, but because El Carrillo has saved lives! This fact has been articulated by many—from residents who thought ending their life was their only option to life on the street; to relatives of residents who had given up all hope; to social workers who talk about client miracles occurring at El Carrillo every day.
El Carrillo also brought together a very necessary collaboration of public and private funding so that needed services for its successful operation will be in-place for decades to come. It is this type of collaboration we need if we are to “solve” the homeless equation. The answer is housing with support services!
El Carrillo is truly a masterpiece. Replicating it to one degree or another is a goal for the Housing Authority. During 2007, we hired architects and have begun schematic designs for our East Cota St. property which we purchased in late 2006. A portion of the development is slated for supportive housing. We are proud to say that we have a “relentless focus” on delivering innovations…and we will continue that focus in 2008.
Robert G. Pearson,
Executive Director/CEO
Read More About El Carrillo (2007 Message from the Chair and the Executive Director/CEO)
View Our 2007 Annual Report (pdf) |
