The future location of the Welcome Home Village will be on the Health Agency Campus in San Luis Obispo, thereby complementing the County’s diverse service offerings at a single location. This will also provide the program’s participants with walking-distance access to vital services including premier medical centers, behavioral health outpatient services, and the crisis stabilization unit.

The Welcome Home Village will be designed and developed by DignityMoves, a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on creating non-congregate housing communities that end unsheltered homelessness using quick-build and cost-effective building systems.

The project will include two types of residences: 34 interim supporting housing units and 46 permanent supportive housing units. All units on site will be fully electric, with built-in heating and air conditioning units, along with beds and limited storage. Those living in the interim supportive housing units will use shared bathrooms and common dining facilities, while the permanent units will feature private bathrooms and kitchenettes. The entire community will be self-enclosed for the privacy and comfort of the residents and surrounding community.

In addition, there will be communal access to laundry facilities, open space with a pet relief area, and several community spaces. These spaces will include work-study areas for residents to use and private offices for them to meet with case managers and other service provider professionals. 

Below is a conceptual site plan for the Welcome Home Village.

This property is currently owned by the County of San Luis Obispo and will be leased to Good Samaritan Shelter for the duration of the project.

 

On-site services and management of the programs will be provided by Good Samaritan Shelter. Good Samaritan Shelter has managed supportive housing and intensive recuperative service programs on the Central Coast for 35 years. Their resume includes managing communities like DignityMoves in Santa Barbara, Rainbow Village Pallet Shelters at BridgeHouse in Lompoc, and Life House in Santa Maria. The Welcome Home Village will be the first community managed by Good Samaritan Shelter in San Luis Obispo County.

Each resident of the Welcome Home Village will have unique life circumstances that led them to homelessness. This is why each person will have an equally unique case plan that is specific to their own path to stabilized housing.

The following services will be provided at the Welcome Home Village in accordance with each person's case plan:

• Individualized case management
• Access to basic medical care
• Mental health assessments
• Substance abuse treatment services
• Wellness activities
• Education and self-improvement opportunities
• Social-emotional skill building
• Job readiness training
• Preparation for permanent housing placement

For services only available outside the Health Agency Campus, residents will be provided with transportation for any appointments they may have with outside professionals. These may include medical appointments, court-ordered activities, or other specialty support services.

The Welcome Home Village will provide priority placement to those currently living in the Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Corridor.

 

Intentional outreach connecting people with enrollment in the Welcome Home Village program and restoration of the Bob Jones Bike Trail and nearby creek beds are primary objectives of the Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Resolution Project.

The City of San Luis Obispo’s Homelessness Response Team has been leading outreach efforts to people living unhoused in the creek beds and on the streets of the City since 2015. Before the Welcome Home Village is complete, this intentional outreach to those currently living in the Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Corridor will be expanded.

 

These outreach efforts will include the following:

• Consistent outreach by the City of San Luis Obispo Field Team to the Bob Jones Bike Trail area, including paramedics, social workers, park rangers, and police officers,
• Introduction of a Good Samaritan Shelter-led outreach team to provide in-field case management and behavioral health intervention,
• Housing navigation from Good Samaritan Shelter to identify individual-specific housing solutions and prepare those individuals for the transition to housing,
• Psychiatric support provided by County Behavioral Health staff, and
• Prioritized patrol by police officers in the South Higuera Street area.

As outreach continues, the City of San Luis Obispo will also focus on trash and debris removal from the San Luis Creek riparian area and the installation of portable restrooms and bear-proof trash receptacles along the San Luis Obispo portion of the Bob Jones Bike Trail.

The Welcome Home Village is the local realization of an innovative approach to homelessness that many other communities throughout the West Coast have implemented with dramatic results. Supportive housing combines rental assistance and intensive coordinated services to provide a highly intentional and effective solution to homelessness.

Supportive housing models have five times more positive exits to permanent housing than the traditional congregate shelter model (Raven MC et al., 2020) and have been shown to reduce overall costs associated with homelessness for the community (Padgett DK et al., 2016). While congregate shelters still have an important role as a short-term safety net, evidence suggests that supportive housing is better able to meet the challenges associated with chronic homelessness.

 

Several Central Coast communities have been using supportive housing models to restore community gathering places and vibrant economic hubs.

Santa Barbara

The Dignity Moves project has been quietly operating in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara since August 2022. Despite initial hesitancies about the project among nearby businesses, neighbors have been surprised by how quiet the site is and by the reduction of people sleeping on sidewalks in the downtown district. There have been no complaints of loitering or an increase in crime incidents near the site.

Isla Vista 

In 2021, the People's Park and the surrounding areas in Isla Vista were no longer safe for use by community members due to illicit camping. The County of Santa Barbara contracted Good Samaritan Shelter to establish a 20-unit interim supportive housing community in Isla Vista to help stabilize and relocate those living in People's Park. During its 12 months of operations, Good Samaritan's program was able to permanently place nearly 50 individuals. Today, People's Park is still clear of encampments and remains accessible and safe for all members of the public.

Grover Beach

The 5Cities Homeless Coalition is the service provider behind Cabins for Change, a 20-unit interim supportive housing community in Grover Beach. The facility provides its residents with 24/7 support, case management, and connections to food services, recovery and housing stabilization guidance. 

The Welcome Home Project development and on-site services through June 2026 are covered by an Encampment Resolution Fund award of $13,361,999.19 from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. The County of San Luis Obispo was announced as a recipient of the encampment resolution grant on June 14, 2023, and the funding was officially accepted by the County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors on July 17, 2023.

The objective of the Encampment Resolution Fund is to resolve encampments of critical concern throughout California and transition the individuals living in those encampments to safe and stable housing. The Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Corridor was proposed by the County as a resolution candidate for the following reasons:

• Health and safety concerns for their inhabitants,
• The risks of unmitigated fires and floods to inhabitants and neighbors,
• Environmental hazards in a fragile riparian area, and
• A chronically large volume of emergency incident calls related to the encampment corridor and its inhabitants.

Below is a chart demonstrating the approximate breakdown of how $13,361,999.19 in CA state funds will be used:

 

After June 2026, there will be an estimated ongoing annual cost of $1,854,699. These costs are primarily attributed to operational costs of the Welcome Home Village (estimated $1,364,330 per year), outreach services (estimated $158,404 per year), and administration costs (estimated $331,965 per year). County staff are currently analyzing a variety of known and potential future funding sources to ensure that this project is sufficiently supported into FY 2027-28 and beyond.

As part of the Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Resolution Project, priority placement in the Welcome Home Village will be given to those currently living in and around the Bob Jones Bike Trail on the south side of San Luis Obispo City. The targeted area stretches from the intersection of Prado Road and South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo to near the trailhead of Johnson Ranch Open Space.

The City of San Luis Obispo’s Homelessness Response Team and Good Samaritan Shelter’s Street Outreach Program will be engaging with people currently living in the targeted region to successfully transition them into the Welcome Home Village. All those identified as potential enrollees into the Welcome Home Village program will be engaging with case managers and support services for 3 to 6 months to prepare them for a successful transition into the program. 

Justice-involved individuals convicted of certain crimes will not be allowed to enroll, live, or visit the Welcome Home Village. This includes PC 290 registered sex offenders and arsonists. If such people are identified during the outreach efforts, they will be connected with and/or referred to more appropriate programs.

The Welcome Home Village will be comprised of two different programs:

• Those enrolled in the interim supportive housing program will be enrolled in a "90-day program," where residents will seek stabilization and permanent housing for the duration of the program. For those needing additional time but on their way to a sustainable and healthful lifestyle, a reasonable and limited extension will be permitted. Residents in similar programs on the Central Coast have an average length of stay of approximately 100 days.
• The permanent supportive housing program will provide a long-term and stable housing option for residents in need of long-term rental assistance and supportive services. People that live in permanent supportive housing environments include the elderly, those with mental or physical disabilities, and people that need supportive housing services for a longer period of time than provided in the interim housing program before finding self-sufficiency. An example of permanent supportive housing is T-MHA's Bishop Street Studios located near Johnson Avenue in San Luis Obispo.

Most of the residents moving to Welcome Home Village will not have a vehicle since people referred to this program have been living unsheltered and do not have access to a vehicle.

Residents will be encouraged to use alternative forms of transportation:

• Walking: The neighborhood surrounding the Welcome Home Village is considered to be walkable for activities such as completing errands, buying groceries, and employment opportunities.
• Biking: The City of San Luis Obispo is host to world-class biking infrastructure which allows most daily errands to be accomplished by bicycle.
• Public Transit: The SLO Transit System has two bus stops directly outside the perimeter of the Welcome Home Village. This will allow residents to use the bus to travel throughout the City, or, after reaching the Downtown Transit Center, throughout the County using the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

For necessary appointments that are not reachable by alternative forms of transportation due to location or schedule needs, a resident transportation service is offered.

The Welcome Home Village will be replacing two parking lots primarily used by County employees and visitors to the County's resources. To mitigate any potential burden this might pose on the surrounding community, the County and its partners have identified new parking spots on campus and will be leasing additional parking spots from a nearby church. These parking spots will be available before construction of the Welcome Home Village begins.

Welcome Home Village will have staff and security professionals on site 24/7. The security will be contracted by a private security company. In addition, the community will be under constant video surveillance with cameras at all entrances and strategically placed throughout the housing community.

The 40 Prado Homeless Services Center is a congregate shelter run by CAPSLO that provides on-site services to program participants and walk-ins, including meals, showers, laundry, and access to case management. Participants that choose to stay in the overnight shelter are allowed to check-in after 4:30PM, sleep overnight in a shared room with other program participants, and may be asked to leave before 7:00AM. CAPSLO's acute response services are critical in the mission to reduce homelessness in San Luis Obispo County.

The Welcome Home Village creates another option in San Luis Obispo through its non-congregate supportive housing program. People living at Welcome Home Village will be provided a private room that allows them to stabilize, address their wellness concerns, and begin developing an exit plan to stable housing. All residents must engage in mandatory case management and actively pursue permanent housing. The community amenities, including internet access, laundry, food services, restrooms, and community areas, are only offered to current residents.

The Welcome Home Village will not provide any services to the general public or walk-ins. Instead, potential residents are identified by Good Samaritan Shelter's housing navigation staff and collaborating outreach partners prior to referral to the Welcome Home Village. People are likely to be engaging with in-the-field case managers and outreach specialists for months prior to their transition to the Welcome Home Village. This is an intentional approach to ensure the participants' success and the success of their fellow residents.

Several Central Coast communities have been using supportive housing models to restore community gathering places and vibrant economic hubs.

Isla Vista

In 2021, the People's Park and the surrounding areas in Isla Vista were impacted for use by community members due to illicit camping. The County of Santa Barbara contracted Good Samaritan Shelter to establish a 20-unit interim supportive housing community in Isla Vista to help stabilize and relocate those living in People's Park. During its 12 months of operations, Good Samaritan's program was able to permanently place nearly 50 individuals.

Today, People's Park is still clear of encampments and remains accessible and safe for all members of the public.

Santa Barbara

The Dignity Moves project has been quietly operating in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara since August 2022. Despite initial hesitancies about the project among nearby businesses, neighbors have been surprised by how quiet the site is and by the reduction of people sleeping on sidewalks in the downtown district. There have been no complaints of loitering or an increase in crime incidents near the site.

Grover Beach

The 5Cities Homeless Coalition is the service provider behind Cabins for Change, a 20-unit interim supportive housing community in Grover Beach. The facility provides its residents with 24/7 support, case management, and connections to food services, recovery and housing stabilization guidance.

In early 2024, DignityMoves and Good Samaritan Shelter opened two larger communities on the Central Coast: Hope Village, a 94-unit community in Santa Maria, and La Posada, an 80-unit community in Goleta.

For additional examples of current and future supportive housing communities please go to DignityMoves' website.

No illicit drugs or alcohol are permitted at the Welcome Home Village. If a resident is found with these substances on their person while they are enrolled in the program, they will be immediately referred to substance use disorder treatment. 

While sobriety and drug testing is not a requirement for entering the program, some clients may be asked to complete urine screens to promote abstinence and validate their sobriety as part of their case plan. Any resident with substantial behavioral health conditions impacting their success or the success of their neighbors will be referred to a facility specifically focused on treating those conditions. 

The Welcome Home Village is not a publicly accessible program and no admittance will be permitted to any walk-ins. All program referrals are done by local homeless service providers through a fair and consistent countywide assessment process known as the Coordinated Entry System.

The Welcome Home Village will accept referrals from local nonprofit service providers - such as Good Samaritan Shelter, Transitions-Mental Health Association, and CAPSLO - and government programs, including the City of San Luis Obispo's Homelessness Response Teams and County of San Luis Obispo's Behavioral Health. Initially, individuals living in the Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Corridor (and then individuals located in encampments throughout the City) will be evaluated and their information placed into the Coordinated Entry System, a standardized intake assessment and referral system. After their initial intake, a person's unique needs will be assessed to determine which programs will be the best fit for them.

No visitors are allowed on site except for service providers and community resource agency representatives whose presence is necessary for the success of the site and its residents.

Pre-scheduled and escorted facility tours will be permitted on a limited basis to maintain the peaceful environment necessary for the rest and growth of the site's residents

The County evaluated several potential site locations and ultimately selected the Health Agency Campus on Johnson Avenue in San Luis Obispo. The County's Health Agency Campus on Johnson Avenue was ultimately selected for its proximity to services and its feasibility for a residential program. This location will provide residents with access to nearby medical centers, behavioral outpatient services, sobering center, and crisis stabilization unit. This location is also conveniently located near pharmacies, a grocery store, two bus stops, the SLO Railroad Safety Trail, and other important amenities.

When considering potential locations for the Welcome Home Village, the County evaluated three additional sites that were ultimately determined to not be feasible due to time, financial, or land use constraints:

• 46 Prado Rd (APN: 053-041-078)
• Sierra Way (APN: 003-682-042)
• DSS Lot (APN: 053-252-081)

After a careful assessment of the parcels available for this project, it was ultimately determined that the Health Agency Campus was the best location for the Welcome Home Village for both the program's future participants and the wider community.

Many supportive housing communities like the Welcome Home Village have successfully integrated into business parks, commercial zones, and residential areas.

While there are often concerns regarding an increase in disruptive behaviors around supportive housing communities, the research and recent documentations are able to dispel these reservations:

• Property values: There has been little evidence to suggest that supportive housing communities cause nearby property values to decline. In fact, five years after the completion of the supportive housing community, research suggests that properties within 500ft of the community appreciate at a faster rate than similar properties over 1,000ft from the community (NYU Furman Center, 2008).
• Visibility: Through thoughtful design, supportive housing communities can blend in seamlessly with their neighboring building. This is why the County of San Luis Obispo is partnering with DignityMoves, an organization dedicated to creating beautiful and dignified communities purpose-built to meet the needs of the surrounding area. Please view other projects created by DignityMoves at DignityMoves.org.
• Crime: There is no statistically significant evidence that suggests that supportive housing communities increase neighborhood crime rates in the surrounding areas (Galster, 2022; National Church Residences, 2017).

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Welcome Home Village. While this program is still in the development stages, we will be eager to share how community members can support the program through volunteerism, donations, and other involvement opportunities soon.