Housing authority reports Buena Tierra has kept most residents housed but logged 14 vacancies in first year

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara updated the City Council of Goleta on the first-year operation of Buena Tierra, a 60-unit Homekey motel conversion that opened to residents in May 2024.

In a presentation to the council, John Polanski, development director for the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara, described Buena Tierra as “a 60 unit project with 59 permanent supportive housing units and 1 manager unit” that included funding and operational support intended to deliver on the Housing First model. The city previously contributed $600,000 to the project as part of the Homekey funding package, Polanski said.

The presentation was framed around outcomes at the one-year mark. Polanski said 14 of the original 60 tenants have left the site in some manner. He provided a detailed breakdown: two tenants died (one in a vehicle-pedestrian crash, one of cancer); two were placed in rehousing or higher-level care; two are incarcerated; three returned to living on the street; three voluntarily relocated using their housing choice vouchers; two were served unlawful detainers for drug-related activity; four were served unlawful detainers for assaults on tenants or staff; and one eviction followed repeated refusal to pay the approximately 30 percent-of-income rent share required under the program after multiple case management interventions.

"We had to serve two folks with unlawful detainers due to drug possession, drug packaging in the unit and drug sales," Polanski said, and he added that fentanyl was often encountered in those cases. He also emphasized that Buena Tierra is not a locked facility: “We are not a locked facility in any way. They can come and go as they please.”

Evan, the housing authority regional manager who runs South County operations, described tenant engagement and some positive outcomes: several residents have been stabilized and are working; four residents are preparing to move on with permanent Housing Choice Vouchers; and staff held a one-year celebration with certificates, food and raffle prizes for residents. "All 60 tenants received HCV vouchers, which goes with them for life," Evan said, citing cases of residents working full time and paying the 30 percent contribution.

Council members asked about management, eviction standards and the impacts on nearby businesses. Polanski and Evan said Housing First principles were followed because Homekey funding requires voluntary services and that evictions occurred only for safety or lease-violation reasons that could not be resolved through case management. They said fencing and on-site security were intended to keep outside drug dealers and other harmful influences off the property.

Council members and Polanski discussed continuing needs for on-site support services and the risk that potential funding cuts could reduce staff and volunteer supports. Polanski singled out AmeriCorps volunteers as an example of partners whose funding uncertainty would reduce service capacity. "Housing retention is tied directly to the support services," he said.

Polanski and council members said the site had particular success serving two groups: veterans (through VASH vouchers) and transition-age youth, which the housing authority had set aside units for and described as some of its strongest success stories.

The presentation closed with council members and housing authority staff urging continued investment in services and community partnerships that help residents keep housing. The council asked for future updates focused on success stories and community impacts.

Ending: The council received the report and had no vote associated with the presentation; staff said they will return with future updates and additional success metrics and that the city will continue to coordinate with the Housing Authority and support-service partners.