Residents

Artisan Court will add 55 needed affordable housing units to the City of Santa Barbara and will be home to very-low income residents with special needs along with downtown workers. Special needs residents will include those who were formerly homeless and youth aging out of foster care. A portion of Artisan Court will also be home to Santa Barbara’s downtown workforce, in particular those choosing alternative transportation for commuting to work.

Background

Many special needs individuals seeking housing assistance are also in need of supportive services, and in many cases, simply providing housing, without the social service component, is not enough.  Artisan Court will be providing a safe and secure home for young people in our community who are transitioning from the foster youth system into independent living and the responsibilities of adulthood. In Santa Barbara County, approximately 30-40 youth age out of foster care each year, and the County is able to provide funding for 10 transitional placements for foster youth.    Nationally, 18-22% of youth aging out of foster care experience homelessness within three years.  The Grand Jury report issued in Santa Barbara in 2007 found that in that year 32% of the youth emancipating (12 of 38) were homeless within six months.  Additionally,  there continues to be a great need for affordable housing for Santa Barbara’s low-income downtown workforce, as well as homeless and formerly homeless individuals in transitional housing.  This development will in part address these needs.