HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/1/2026 Item 4a, Gaitan
Carmen Gaitan <cgaitan@accesscentralcoast.org>
Sent:Wednesday, April
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Public Comment
Attachments:public hearing .docx
Carmen Gaitan
Housing & Support Specialist SLO County
Access Central Coast.
51 Zaca Ln Suite 140 San Luis Obispo CA 93401
(805) 462-1162 x412
cgaitan@accesscentralcoast.org
SEND TEXTS TO 805-468-4379
I am out of the office every Thursday & Friday
1
My name is Carmen Gaitan, and I am a Housing and Support Specialist with Access Central
Coast, serving San Luis Obispo County. I have been in this role for nearly two years, and during
that time I have had the privilege of helping many individuals and families secure and maintain
stable housing.
I have directly assisted more than 25 individuals and families in obtaining housing. While some
placements happened quickly, many required months of persistence—from submitting initial
applications to finally attending lease signings. Being part of that full journey with my clients has
been incredibly meaningful.
Beyond securing housing, I have supported clients in turning those units into homes by helping
them obtain essential furnishings. I have also helped individuals transition out of homelessness,
including moving clients from the Prado Road shelter into permanent Project-Based Voucher
units.
This work requires strong collaboration, and I have built relationships with numerous community
partners, including Peoples’ Self-Help Housing, HASLO, IHSS, APS, and CAPSLO. These
partnerships are essential in navigating a system that can be overwhelming—especially for
individuals with disabilities or complex needs.
Many of my clients have shared that they don’t know what they would have done without this
support. Even after housing placement, I continue working with clients—assisting with
recertifications, communicating with landlords, and helping them maintain long-term stability.
The work we do is critical. Access Central Coast’s San Luis Obispo office is making a real,
measurable difference—helping individuals and families not only find housing, but succeed in
living independently within our community.
Thank you for your Ɵme and consideraƟon. I have also included tesƟmonials from clients to
further illustrate the impact of this work.
Client Testimonial
When I first came into contact with Carmen, I was in urgent need of housing assistance due to
my living situation. I also needed basic furniture and household necessities, as I did not have
any.
Carmen supported me every step of the way. She was patient and helped me complete and
submit all the required paperwork for my apartment. Because of her guidance and dedication, I
was able to successfully secure housing, and I’m incredibly grateful for her support throughout
the entire process.
She made me feel comfortable from the very beginning. Carmen is kind, approachable, and truly
cares about the people she works with, which made it easy for me to trust her and ask for help
when I needed it.
Thanks to Carmen and Access Central Coast, I am now living independently in my own
apartment—for the first time in my life. This experience has brought me so much joy and
stability, and it has truly changed my life. I feel incredibly thankful and blessed.
I believe Carmen does an outstanding job and goes above and beyond for her clients. I would not
change anything about the support she provided.
— Khrishna Aguilar
Client Testimonial
When I first connected with Carmen, I was in need of housing assistance due to my living
situation. I also needed basic furniture and household necessities, as I did not have any.
Carmen was incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. She was patient and helped me
complete and submit all the required paperwork for my apartment. She stayed with me every step
of the way, and I truly appreciate everything she did to help me succeed.
I always felt comfortable talking with her. Carmen is kind, easy to talk to, and has a genuinely
caring demeanor, which made a difficult time in my life much easier to navigate.
Because of Carmen and Access Central Coast, I am now living independently in my own
apartment for the first time in my life. This has brought me so much happiness and stability, and
I feel incredibly thankful and blessed.
I believe Carmen has done an excellent job and went above and beyond to support me. I would
not change anything about the assistance I received.
— Brittaney Harvey