City of Santa Maria*

There is a need for greater transparency, understanding and accountability of homeless related expenditures and the results. Response: Agree <b>Recommendation 1b</b> That the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria publish an annual report of their homeless related expenditures and outcomes. Response: Will not be implemented. There is not a consistent reporting methodology and the City already reports specified expenditures.

State and federal funding that is granted to Santa Barbara County does not sufficiently support the mandate for housing the homeless. Response: Agree

Elected City and County leaders have not exhibited aggressive leadership in determining the availability of sites in their jurisdictions for housing the homeless. Response: Disagree wholly.

A greater effort is needed to inform and include the public regarding the needs of the homeless for housing and services and how it can appropriately fit into neighborhoods. Response: Agree.

All overnight emergency shelters are at capacity year-round, there are not enough day centers, and there are currently no Navigation Centers in Santa Barbara County. Response: Disagree partially with Explanation. Good Samaritan Shelter in the City of Santa Maria provides emergency shelter within city limits does report that they are at capacity year-round. Currently, under the COVID pandemic, Good Samaritan Shelter allows all clients to stay on property throughout the day under the Shelter in Place order. Under normal operating conditions, Good Samaritan Shelter does allow those that are medically fragile and homeless families to stay in the shelter during the day. Day centers are a costly endeavor, and would need more analysis before deciding on whether or not that is a conducive solution. Good Samaritan Shelter, the local homeless shelter provider, is the first organization in the county that has implemented the Navigation Centers - two centers have been implemented in North County, one within the City of Santa Maria and another one on the outskirts of the City of Lompoc at Bridgehouse. Good Samaritan Shelter utilized HEAP funding that was allocated from the state, through Santa Barbara County, to construct modular office buildings that host housing interventions for homeless individuals and families seeking services. Services that are provided within the Navigation Centers include Rapid Resolution, Homeless Prevention, Rapid ReHousing, Veteran Services, Shelter Access, and Housing Location & Assistance. <b>Recommendation 8a</b> That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria work together to create overnight emergency shelters commensurate with their homeless populations. Response: Has been Implemented. The City of Santa Maria has worked in partnership with the County of Santa Barbara and the local homeless shelter provider, Good Samaritan Shelter, to create overnight emergency shelter commensurate with the homeless population. Emergency Shelters within the City of Santa Maria include: Good Samaritan Shelter's Santa Maria Emergency Shelter (90 bed facility) Good Samaritan Shelter's Family Shelter (48 bed facility) Good Samaritan Shelter's Overflow Shelter (30 beds) • Good Samaritan Shelter's SAFE House (16 beds) • The City of Santa Maria worked in partnership with the Good Samaritan Shelter to develop the first and only Emergency Shelter in the county that provides emergency shelter for victims of Human Trafficking (SAFE House). This project serves victims throughout Santa Barbara County. The City of Santa Maria also works in partnership with the County of Santa Barbara, Salvation Army, and the Freedom Warming Center that provide inclement weather emergency shelter for individuals that are unsheltered during the months of December - March. In addition, the City of Santa Maria is the only city within the county that supported the opening of an additional Emergency Shelter during the COVID pandemic that was operated by both the County of Santa Barbara and Good Samaritan Shelter at the Santa Maria High School gym for three months.

Currently, several California cities are providing temporary homeless facilities by utilizing alternative cost-effective forms of housing such as high-performance tension fabric structures, tiny houses, and modular housing. Response: Agree. The City of Santa Maria's homeless shelter provider, Good Samaritan Shelter, has already implemented alternative cost-effective forms of housing in other regions in Santa Barbara County - including the development of 2 tiny houses to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless families.

Currently, in some California cities, large health care insurers are utilizing their tax credits to fund housing facilities for the chronically homeless. Response: Agree. <b>Recommendation 10</b> That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and City Councils of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria contact major health care insurers in their jurisdictions and encourage them to seek partnerships to support the construction of housing for the chronically homeless of Santa Barbara County. Response: Will not be implemented. Such partnerships need to be collaborative with homeless services providers and the City is open to being part of such collaboration. alie M. Yalin <b>ALICE M. PATINO</b> Mayor