• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) visited the future site of more than 30 new studio apartments and a health clinic in downtown Santa Barbara, and presented a ceremonial check for $1 million, an investment he secured in this year’s federal budget to support the project, according to an April 16 statement from Carbajal’s office. “This is an example of great partnerships in action helping to address the Central Coast’s greatest issues,” Carbajal said in the statement. “It tackles housing: 34 new affordable units for Central Coast families, which are much needed. It tackles health: creating a new clinic to address mental health, substance use, and other ailments. And it does both right in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.” The clinic will give residents access to supportive services for those struggling with mental health, substance abuse, and other health concerns. The mixed-use development will also include 10 units set aside for 24/7 supportive care from the Sanctuary Centers team. The funding is part of $13.4 million secured by Carbajal for 14 Central Coast projects, which he championed over the course of the past year’s federal budget negotiations. The projects range from public safety and infrastructure upgrades to water system improvements.
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve environmental mitigation for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works infrastructure projects, according to an April 18 statement from Padilla’s office. The Army Corps Civil Works builds critical flood control, navigation, water supply, and recreational projects across the country. These infrastructure projects often impact terrestrial and aquatic species and waters covered under the Clean Water Act. Any Civil Works projects that cause unavoidable adverse impacts to wetlands, streams, or other aquatic resources must be offset by restoration, establishment, enhancement, or preservation efforts in a process known as “compensatory mitigation.” Since 2015, the Corps has started or completed an average of just 58 percent of its required annual mitigation, according to status reports. This bill would allow USACE Civil Works to contract with a third-party provider to properly and efficiently mitigate the environmental impacts for its projects. “As the Army Corps makes vital repairs to levees and critical infrastructure to protect against flooding, we must pair any disruptions to river flows or aquatic habitat with comparable and timely ecosystem restoration,” Padilla said in the statement. “This legislation will help build lasting, sustainable flood infrastructure while saving taxpayer dollars and protecting the biodiversity of our waterways.”
• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced nearly $200 million in new state funds to help move people out of encampments and into housing, and new measures to increase funding oversight and accountability, according to an April 18 statement from his office. “This new funding will get people out of tents and into housing across California,” Newsom said in the statement. “As the state provides unprecedented resources like this, we also expect accountability. Local governments must ensure this funding is being utilized on the ground.” The awards, totaling approximately $192 million, are part of the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund grants, which are administered by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH). These grants will support 20 projects in 17 California communities, including $7.9 million allocated to Santa Barbara County, which intends to use the funds to contract with New Beginnings’ Safe Parking Program to serve approximately 300 individuals starting this summer, according to a statement from the county. This program will provide rental assistance; housing navigation; housing retention; connections to benefits, employment, and primary and behavioral health care; and housing stabilization case management to help clients transition into and maintain permanent secure housing.
