Santa Barbara County is seeking a prohousing designation from the state– a move that could unlock more funding for local housing and infrastructure projects.
This week, the Board of Supervisors voted for the county to apply for the California Department of Housing’s Prohousing Designation Program. The designation signals that a local government is committed to removing obstacles to build new housing. It also gives them priority access to competitive state grants for affordable housing and infrastructure programs.
According to County Housing Programs Manager Lucille Boss, with many locals struggling to find safe, affordable housing– or experiencing homelessness– more funding is critical.
“That can be used to support some of the projects that we already have going– so downpayment assistance for lower income and workforce housing; it can support rental subsidies; it can support security deposits and new construction as well,” Boss said.
Boss said the designation won’t require any changes to existing county housing policies. It’s based on measures already in place or previously approved by the state and Board of Supervisors.
The county plans to submit its application in the next couple of weeks. After that, the state will have about 60 days to decide whether or not to approve it.
