Corporate Profile

Corporate Profile

Administration and Organization
The Executive Director is the staff person responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Authority and also serves as Secretary to the Board of Commissioners and corporate Treasurer. The Authority currently has a staff of 66 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees to carry out the various powers, duties and functions of the agency. From time to time outside contractors are utilized to provide some operational services, typically for large-scale grounds maintenance. The Authority also contracts for the services of professional and technical experts in fields such as architecture, engineering, residential and commercial construction, and independent auditing. Legal services are provided on an as needed basis.

Scope and Size of Agency Programs and Activities

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara functions primarily to build, acquire, own, manage and maintain residential rental units for persons of very low income and to obtain rent payment assistance for similar households renting in the private market. Operating through a central Administrative Office in Lompoc and Housing Management and Maintenance offices in Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc and Santa Maria, the Authority provides direct services to applicants, tenants and private property owners. In 2004, the Executive Director and staff with a combined budget of approximately $37 million served 4,124 extremely low, very low and low-income households in private market and Authority-owned rentals, through its core federal programs. The Authority owns, manages and maintains 536 residential rental units through the federal Public Housing program. The Housing Authority, since its creation in 1941, has undertaken new construction and acquisition development activities in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county, and has contracted with various cities and the county to perform a variety of housing-related services in support of their local plans.

Other Operations Highlights:

	Private property management - a group care facility and two federal low-income housing tax credit developments.
	Administration of a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program operation county-wide, to assist first time homebuyers.
	Contract administration of multi-million dollar Public Housing comprehensive modernization construction contracts.
	Administration of federal Section 8 rental assistance (formerly the "Aftercare" program) for mentally, physically and developmentally disabled adults.
	Resident Initiatives program operation working with local officials, schools, colleges, and various community organizations to provide educational, recreational, employment and homeownership opportunities to Public Housing residents.
	Family Self-Sufficiency program operation working with local social service providers, educational, recreational, religious and job training organizations to encourage and promote upward mobility and self-sufficiency of our residents and participants.
	Drug Elimination program operation in Public Housing developments working with local law enforcement, other city departments, and various community organizations to provide safe, secure, drug-free neighborhoods.
	Income certification services provided through contract with the County of Santa Barbara for their Inclusionary affordable housing program.
	Loan of $14,600 to local non-profit to fill financing gap on purchase of a home in Orcutt for 6 mentally handicapped adults.
	Special rental assistance set-asides to support local special needs populations in cooperation with units of local government.
	Affordable housing policy resources for units of local government and various other community partners.