The small city of Guadalupe—home to generations of farmworkers—has a big reason to celebrate: Where an aging public housing complex once stood, a new community has opened, complete with affordable, sustainable rental homes, safer and more convenient transportation options, and a beautiful new community center and child-care center.
Dedicated to community members most in need, Escalante Meadows includes 80 modern, climate-friendly homes with up to four bedrooms, a marked upgrade from the previous complex that had 52 units in 26 flood-prone cinderblock duplexes.
Residents
Escalante Meadows prioritizes households with lower income levels, and 15 of the units are reserved for Californians with increased health needs under Housing for a Healthy California.
Residents have moved in. Many are or have been farmworkers and were living in temporary homes while construction took place. Anita is among the residents of the original complex who returned now that new homes have been built.
“I was a fieldworker for many years. I feel very peaceful, secure in these apartments. And, well, my life is very happy,” Anita shared in English and Spanish with media and attendees at a ribbon–cutting event in July.
Funding and development
Escalante Meadows was funded in part by $19.4 million from the California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, which is celebrating 10 years and more than $4 billion in Cap-and-Trade investments.
“Collaborative projects like Escalante Meadows—where we prioritize people, local community needs and neighborhood impacts—are the foundation of why the California Strategic Growth Council exists. We fund projects that build needed infrastructure and housing while connecting communities to essential services and setting them up to thrive in the long-term.”- SGC Executive Director Erin Curtis
Housing Authority of Santa Barbara County (HASBARCO) has been hard at work on the site for eight years.
“Escalante Meadows shows us what’s possible when federal, state and local partners come together with a shared vision for equity, sustainability and opportunity. This development is a testament to how affordable housing and environmental sustainability can reinforce one another in building stronger, healthier communities.”- HASBARCO Executive Director Bob Havlicek
Honoring a community hero
The development is named in honor of local World War II hero Augustin Escalante, whose family came to Guadalupe in the 1930s and ’40s as migrant workers.
“He gave up his life for his platoon when he had a choice to come home, but he was very loyal and faithful,” said his niece, Marlene, in a video about the hero created by HASBARCO and Suede & Pomade.
In a touching moment, a young member of the Escalante family cut the ribbon at a celebration on July 11, 2025. Another honor to add to Escalante’s Silver Star (Posthumously) and Purple Heart Medals.
“This initiative represents a collaborative effort involving all levels of government and the entire community to support the residents of Guadalupe and Santa Barbara County, helping them to strengthen their roots,” said Amar Cid, SGC’s Deputy Director of Community Investments and Planning. “It is an ongoing honor to work alongside teams committed to recognizing the individuals who contribute to the vibrancy of their communities. What better way to celebrate this than by naming this beautiful development after Augustin Escalante?”
Project features
In addition to 80 homes, the project includes a two-story Community Building that will host a computer lab and clinic, wellness clinic, resident and community services center, offices, meeting rooms, a beautiful children's center with outdoor (and partially shaded) play area, raised-bed gardening plots, commercial kitchen and great room, and support space for residents and members of the community.
Transportation upgrades include new bikeways, multipurpose trails, crossing improvements, short- and long-term bike parking, a new bus and bus shelter, improved transit operations, as well as vehicle charging stations. Each affordable housing unit will receive one discounted transit pass for three years. And Escalante Meadows is only a seven-minute bus ride to the Guadalupe Amtrak station.
The project also features solar panels and energy efficient windows, awnings and overhangs.
"We're not only building affordable housing, but we're also improving the community around the affordable housing by building sidewalks, bike lanes, investing in transit, and making sure that people are able to live their day to day as healthfully and as safely as possible,” said Marc Caswell, an advisor with SGC’s Community Investments and Planning branch.
About the city
Guadalupe was originally home to the Chumash people before the devastating impact of colonization. The city sits along the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest in the National Marine Sanctuary System.
The city had an influx of European, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese and Mexican settlers. Today it is still a diverse community of about 8,000 residents with a thriving mix of cultures and deep connection to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
The city is referred to as “the Gateway to the Dunes” due to its proximity to the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex, one of the most ecologically significant and largest intact coastal dune ecosystems on earth.
With the official opening of this much-needed affordable housing community, the city is paying homage to the past while honoring the present and creating a brighter future.
About the California Strategic Growth Council
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is a 10-member council made up of seven state agencies and three public members with the mission to build healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all. Funded through California’s Cap and Trade system and the California General Fund, SGC’s grant programs, strategic initiatives, and interagency coordination focus on multi-benefit and community-centric solutions at the nexus of climate and equity. Since 2008, SGC has invested more than $3.5 billion in projects strengthening communities and addressing climate change across California.