Title
Consider recommendations regarding conditional reservation of funding to the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (Housing Authority) for the Homekey Program Application in Santa Maria, Fifth District, as follows:
a) Approve a reservation of $3,486,400.00, in funds made available by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and HOME American Rescue Plan Consortium funds that have been allocated to the County, which will serve as the capital matching funds required under the Homekey program for the acquisition and rehabilitation of 1007 Main St., Santa Maria by the Housing Authority, and ratify a Reservation Letter signed by the Community Services Director for inclusion in the Homekey application to the State submitted prior to the January 31, 2022 deadline for geographic set-asides and application bonus award;
b) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute a letter of support for the Homekey project, which will be attached to the Notice of Exemption; and
c) Determine that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 50675.1.4, finding that the proposed “Homekey” project is to provide housing for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness and who are impacted by COVID-19 and that the project satisfies the requirements described more fully in Section 50675.1.4, and direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption on that basis.