County of Santa Barbara Workforce Housing Strategic Implementation Plan

Harris partnered with the County of Santa Barbara to prepare a Workforce Housing Strategic Implementation Plan containing specific actions based on the specific characteristics of the County and charts a clear path to increasing the supply of housing affordable to the region’s workforce. The plan focuses on residents earning between 30% and 200% of Area Median Income and includes actionable strategies to support both new development and the preservation of existing affordable units.

Key components of the plan included:

• Extensive stakeholder engagement with developers, employers, chambers of commerce, school districts, housing authorities, and other partners (10+ meetings)
• Financial feasibility analysis of inclusionary zoning policies and the state density bonus law
• Assessment of more than 40 publicly owned land assets for potential housing development
• Review of public funding sources and tools for forming public-private partnerships
• Evaluation of long-term affordability strategies, including Community Land Trusts and Joint Powers Authorities
• Specific action items based on the tailored needs, strengths and challenges in the community with step-by-step direction on implementation.

I could not have been more pleased with everyone’s professionalism, expertise, abilities, willingness to constantly communicate with clarity—all wrapped up within a demeanor that made it truly feel like we were a team! A remarkable experience. Thank you, Harris!

Joseph Dzvonik

Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development
County of Santa Barbara

The final plan identifies 21 high-potential County-owned sites, recommendations on specific policies, and offers implementation tools designed to help the County lead by example in advancing equitable workforce housing development.