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Department of Resident Services

All programs for residents are coordinated by our Department of Resident Services, established to provide services to all residents of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. Services are available for families, children, and seniors and range from coordinating in-home health care for frail seniors, to computer labs and homework clubs for students, to parenting classes for young adults.

As its name implies, the Housing Authority’s Department of Resident Services (DRS) was established to provide services to all residents of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara.  Such a broad umbrella heading means that the Resident Services staff finds themselves working as brokers for many community services.  Mainly, Residents Services provides advocacy and programs within the community at large in an attempt to enrich residents’ lives.  The main goal of the Department of Resident Services is to provide a path for the families so they can achieve progressive living.

Resident Initiatives

Resident Council:  Monthly meeting to interact and discuss issues within the Housing Authority community and surrounding areas, the Council was originally established in order to deal with the rehabilitation and development of new and existing properties purchased by Housing Authority, and works directly with the department of Property and Development to achieve this end. The Council addresses issues such as;  public transportation, decreasing work orders by educating residents and youth programs.  The Resident Council’s aim is to ensure that public Housing residents have a voice.

Training Program: Designed to give residents and low income persons within the community the opportunity to gain the additional skills and experience that will allow them to enter or re-enter the work-force.  The Intern/Helper Program has a 99-percent success rate of job placement in the private sector.  In addition to meeting our need for temporary help.  The program works to provide on-the-job training, job acquisition and job retention skills to the low income participants.  The program’s goal is to create opportunities for the socioeconomic advancement of residents, and to foster increase self-esteem and self respect.

GreenNet/Arroyo Gardens (computer/garden activities):  An intervention program to divert attention away from vandalism, gangs, drugs and violence, our program teaches our public housing children computer skills and life experiences in horticulture and agriculture.  Beginning with a seed and evolving to a mature plant, our children grow with them and reward themselves with fresh fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers to take back to their homes.  GreenNet also provides training as a small business teaching kids how to run a business and sell their product to the community.  Many donations are received each year and local restaurants buy or flowers to decorate their tables. Children also receive instructions and internet use for research on these subjects.

ROSS (Resident Opportunities for Self Sufficiency):  A program designed to ensure our residents (seniors and disabled persons) receive case management and local services available to continue successful independent living.  This service provides one on one assessments for our residents to determine what appropriate services are required and to make referrals for the same.

Family Build:  Aimed at our families involved with the Housing Authority such as our Public Housing, non-HUD and Section 8 participants, once referred; Family Build assists participants and residents with a wide variety of services including counseling, medical services, and referrals for day to day living needs such as medical services, food and clothing.

Family Opportunity Center at Monteria Village:  The Housing Authority contracts with Ann Bennet, a retired teacher to provide the children at this apartment complex with mentoring and homework assistance.  Ann has been instrumental in securing collaborations with the Women’s Assistance League of Santa Barbara and UCSB student volunteers to provide a teen program twice a month operating at the center, teaching self-esteem and focusing on peer interaction in the complex and at school.  This center was built to have a safe learning environment for the children of the west side of the city.  They participate 2 hours per day, 3 days a week and receive assistance with their homework from many volunteers from UCSB.  Children learn to use computers and the internet in our computer lab, some of which would other wise have no access to this technology.

Paseo Voluntario Learning Center:  Similar to the Family Opportunity Center at Monteria Village, this new center services children on the east side of the city.  Youth arrive to use the center and attend the After School Homework Program.  Resident Services staff and Housing Authority interns aid the children in assorted subject matters and also explain how computers work and the usage of the internet as an educational tool.

Presidio Historical Park Program:  A collaboration between the Santa Barbara Presidio Historical Landmark and the Housing Authority, this 4 week summer program is open to all youth residing in public housing.  The youth learn many historical facts about their city and have fun and interactive activities.

Girl Scouts:  A non traditional approach to keep our female youth from the rigors of gangs, drugs and violence.  The young women within our public housing units along with some guidance are learning to become leaders, model citizens and are building friendships.

FSS Programs

Family Self Sufficiency:  A voluntary program designed to assist families achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency through education, job training, and better employment.  The FSS program motivates and helps participants identify career goals, develops a personalized ‘Action plan’, obtain services needed to meet goals and overcome obstacles. Learn more about Family Self Sufficiency.

Financial Literacy Workshops:  The Financial Literacy Workshops provide a gamut of lessons to our residents in both English and Spanish.  Lessons are taught by a variety of professionals.  Topics include banking services, budgets, savings, checking accounts, investments, goal setting, planning, credit basics, home mortgage process, and accomplish ones goals with the overall goal of our residents to become financially savvy and to be pro-active with their finances.

Individual Development Accounts/Dollars and $ense Partnership Program:  In collaboration with Community Action Commission the program provides a savings incentive program for low income families.  A savings account can nearly triple the savings of qualified account holders.  That is, if an account holder can save $2,000, even over as long a period as 3-4 years, that holder will receive back nearly $6,000.  Participants must save for one of three goals; starting up a business or expanding an existing business, down payment on a house, or advanced education or vocational training.

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance):  A service for all low income families in the Santa Barbara community; this collaboration is between the Housing Authority and the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) serves the community at large.  With classes being taught by the IRS and Resident Services staff to the volunteers, they help all residents with basic tax returns, particularly those with low and limited income, individuals with disabilities, non-English speaking and elderly taxpayers. There is no charge for this service.