MENTAL-HEALTH HOUSING BOOST:

The Santa Barbara City Council unanimously approved a $500,000
increase in its loan to a proposed mental-health housing project
located at 617 Garden Street. Developers of the 51-unit project
cited escalating construction costs as the basis of their request.
Since the project was first approved, the Mental Health
Association — which is working in conjunction with Bermant
Development — reported that construction costs had increased by
$3.1 million. Of the project’s 51 units, 26 are slated for very
low-income mental-health clients. The other 25 are for low-income
people who work downtown.