Housing Authority briefs Goleta council on vouchers, waitlists and new developments

Bob Havlicek, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara, gave a state‑of‑operations briefing to the Goleta City Council on Aug. 19, summarizing local voucher work, wait lists, supportive services and upcoming developments in South County.

Havlicek told council members the housing authority serves roughly 3,570 households in the South County area with high occupancy rates and that about a third of households are seniors, a third disabled and a third working families; many residents pay about 30% of their income in rent under project‑based subsidy arrangements. He said the authority manages wait lists: “In the Goleta area we have over 1,100 names on the wait list,” and that demand “far outstrips supply.”

Havlicek discussed federal program funding and near‑term constraints. He said the nationwide housing choice voucher program had seen proposed federal cuts but that congressional appropriators largely rejected deep cuts, so funding remains in place. Still, he said rising market rents have created a structural funding shortfall: the authority is operating at approximately 92% utilization relative to the vouchers it administers, and overall funding for voucher payments is in shortfall. “When you’re in shortfall, the federal government has to find a way to give you more money to make you whole so we don’t have to let anybody go who currently has assistance,” he said, and noted HUD has previously addressed shortfalls but also limits issuance of new vouchers while shortfall persists.

Havlicek described local development activity and partnerships. He said the authority is involved in five new developments slated to begin construction within six to nine months, including two Heritage Ridge projects (a 41‑unit senior project and a special‑needs family project supported by a Homekey award), Hollister Lofts (a 35‑unit homeless‑serving project with 9% tax credits), San Marcos Ranch (236 units, half at 80% area median income), and a 106‑unit project on a Santa Barbara School District site designated for district employees and teachers with a few units for veterans. He said the authority obtained an A+ bond rating from Standard & Poor’s, which will lower interest costs on bond issuances and help finance new development.

On services, Havlicek said the authority operates several site‑based services and partnerships — with Dignity Health, Domestic Violence Solutions, Family Services Agency and others — and has a resident and supportive services director to help preserve housing stability. He described security strategies, including mobile security patrols and CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design). He noted operational details such as a 24‑hour maintenance on‑call service for tenants and a Yardi online portal for applications and landlord interactions.

Council members pressed on voucher usage in Goleta. Council members asked whether voucher holders can lease in Goleta given local market rents; Havlicek explained county payment standards are split by region (South County, San Ynez, North County) and the housing authority coordinates with the City of Santa Barbara housing authority to align standards; he said high local rents make leasing in Goleta more difficult but the agency manages regionally appropriate payment standards. Council members also asked about the authority’s planning for seniors and people with serious behavioral health needs; Havlicek said the authority is actively pursuing projects to serve seniors and employs a hybrid resident‑services model that mixes external service partners and internal supportive‑services staff to bridge gaps.

Havlicek said the housing authority expects to continue seeking targeted vouchers for special populations (veterans, other competitively awarded vouchers) but does not expect a general expansion of the housing choice voucher program in the near term.

Council members thanked Havlicek for the presentation and asked for follow‑up data on the composition of the wait list (percent families vs. single individuals, unit size needs) to inform city planning and housing strategy.