In Goleta, there’s a quiet crisis brewing — and if the governor’s budget proposal stands, it won’t stay quiet for long. The planned elimination of California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program funding — dropping from $1 billion to zero — puts real lives in immediate danger, right here in our community.
My 22-year-old daughter, who is severely autistic, relies every day on her 1:1 personal assistant — someone who lives in a transitional housing unit funded through this program in Goleta. She’s not just a caregiver; she’s family. Without housing, she’ll be displaced. Without her, my daughter’s life unravels.
Buena Tierra and other local projects were created to offer stability — a bridge for people working hard to rebuild. This isn’t about laziness or lack of effort. These are caregivers, veterans, youth, and those with disabilities. They’re not invisible. They’re the reason many vulnerable people in our community — like my daughter — thrive.