Plan Now Available for Public Review on City Website

The City of Goleta is one step closer to adopting its first-ever Homelessness Strategic Plan (Plan). The Final Plan was recently reviewed by the Homelessness Issues Standing Committee and will be considered for adoption by the Goleta City Council at the April 20, 2021, meeting. The Plan is now available for review here. Once adopted, the document will help guide and coordinate efforts to prevent and address homelessness within the City of Goleta, and particularly, funding decisions related to homelessness initiatives and grants for non-profit service providers that focus on the homeless.

“We are very pleased to be able to share the City’s Final Homelessness Strategic Plan with the public,” said City of Goleta Neighborhood Services Interim Director Jaime Valdez. He added, “This is the culmination of a two-year effort during which City staff has collaborated with multiple local stakeholders and sought out public input through workshops and a community survey. This Plan will provide the City Council with important guidance going forward as they make difficult funding decisions about homelessness initiatives.”

Community input has been an essential part of the development of the Plan. The City has held numerous public meetings and released a survey to hear directly from those with input on homelessness in our region, as well as people experiencing homelessness. Staff also held stakeholder meetings, best practices discussions with communities nationwide, and a Community Open House and information session.

City Council and staff believe having a strategic plan will provide important direction and clarity around needs, service gaps, and priorities in order to make effective and strategic funding decisions that serve both the existing homeless population, as well as those at risk of becoming homeless. We are grateful for the public’s input and interest in this important effort.

Learn more and review the Final Plan at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaHomelessnessPlan.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto