The construction of El Carrillo is a response to the growing homeless population and the closure of several other affordable housing Single Room Occupancy (SRO) structures in the past several years (including the Virginian, Carrillo, and California hotels) which forced many fixed income seniors and low income residents to take up shelter at the Cacique Street Shelter or similar transitional housing facilities.  The El Carrillo Studios will provide some desperately needed housing relief to an underserved population. 

The Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara, a local nonprofit which strives to expand the production, renovation and preservation of affordable housing within Santa Barbara County, is financing $1,000,000 of the construction of El Carrillo. 

The Housing Authority is also enlisting the help of the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit Work Training Programs, Inc., who will serve a vital role in the success of the new housing model.  Work Training Programs, which provides independent living and employment support services to individuals with disabilities or disadvantages, will help El Carrillo residents to live and work as productive members of the community.  Through this partnership with the Housing Authority, Work Training Programs will employ an on-site Resident Services Coordinator to offer free, weekly, on-site workshops and classes for El Carrillo residents, in addition to providing a wide range of residential, day program, and employment services.  Pacific Capital Bank will donate six or more personal computers to El Carrillo’s community room, equipped with free internet access.  Work Training Programs will also provide free computer classes for residents.

El Carrillo Studios will be situated at 315 W. Carrillo Street, adjacent to the Housing Authority’s award-winning property, Casa de Las Fuentes, which has garnered local, state, and national attention and recognitions for its success as an affordable housing solution for the downtown workforce.  El Carrillo Studios will consist of 61 new single room occupancy (SRO) units and a two-bedroom resident manager unit.  Given the anticipated income levels of the individuals who will reside in El Carrillo, rents that will be charged for the units will be affordable at a debt-to-income ratio of no more than 30%. In addition, rents will be $300 to $585 less than an average studio apartment currently available on the market in the City of Santa Barbara.

Developer
El Carrillo L.P.  

Property Management
Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara & Work Training Programs, Inc.  

Development Type
New Construction: Two and Three Story

Total Building
24,294 sq. ft.  

Development Profile:
61 Efficiency Studios (216 sq. ft. per unit)
1 Managers Unit Two-Bedroom
62 Total (16,416 sq. ft.)  

Amenities:
Community room with computers donated by Pacific Capital Bank, Program room, Laundry, landscaped court yards and exterior (7,351 sq. ft.), common decks and fountain.  

Planning Commission Approval: 
June 17, 2004

Income Targeting:

Santa Barbara County Area Median Income (AMI) for a single person household is $45,300  

Architect: Cearnal Andrulaitis  

Contractor: McGillivray Construction, Inc.  

For more information contact:
Property & Development Department
Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara
808 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, 93101
Telephone: (805) 897-1060