Get help from the city and county of Santa Barbara County housing authorities
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara and the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara operate two of the most active affordable housing systems anywhere on the Central Coast. Both manage Housing Choice Vouchers, own rental communities and coordinate with local governments to address homelessness and extreme housing costs. Learn more about the two housing authorities in Santa Barbara below, as well as their contact information.
The agencies serve overlapping but distinct areas, with the city authority focused on residents within Santa Barbara city limits and the county authority serving families in Goleta, Carpinteria, Lompoc, Santa Maria and other communities. The goal is to help stabilize a family, and they use various programs to do this.
Programs from the City of Santa Barbara Housing Authority
One aspect that makes the City of Santa Barbara Housing Authority unusual is the scale of its supportive and service-enriched housing. Affordable, income-based housing Developments such as Artisan Court, El Carrillo and The Gardens on Hope were built specifically for young adults exiting foster care, people experiencing homelessness and seniors with limited incomes who need daily support. They can also provide private housing with no credit check required.
- The agency blends federal funds with local partnerships so case managers, health services and employment services are provided on-site. These properties help residents stabilize quickly in a city where studio apartments often cost more than what many workers earn in a month.
The city authority also uses Moving to Work flexibility, which gives it more freedom than a typical housing authority when designing rent policies or structuring self-sufficiency programs. This allows the agency to focus on “workforce housing” for low wage workers who keep the city’s service economy operating but struggle with high rents. The authority also places project-based vouchers in small infill properties rather than concentrating affordable housing in one area, which helps low income residents live near jobs, transit and schools in multiple neighborhoods.
Addressing homelessness and offering extremely low income housing remain central responsibilities of the city authority. It receives Emergency Housing Vouchers and partners with local outreach teams so households coming directly from shelters or encampments receive priority. They also help people find, and apply for, rent and deposit payment help in from Santa Barbara agencies. The options also includes small, infill supportive housing sites in downtown Santa Barbara that align with the city’s design standards while creating long-term permanent housing for people leaving the streets.
Resources from the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara
The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara manages a larger geographic area with more varied economic needs. Rents in the Santa Ynez Valley differ significantly from those in coastal cities. As an example, the farmworker communities in northern Santa Barbara County face different challenges than service workers in Goleta or Carpinteria.
The county authority adjusts payment standards and uses scattered-site public housing to ensure families can remain close to agricultural job sites, industrial parks or community colleges. This flexibility is one of the program’s defining features and gives residents more choice than in many other counties. The housing authorities often negotiate affordability covenants with local landlords, long-term rental agreements or service partnerships so these units remain accessible to low income residents rather than being absorbed by higher-income renters.
The county authority also offers a strong Family Self-Sufficiency program. Section 8 participants can build escrow savings as their earnings rise, allowing families to pay down debt, prepare for homeownership or pursue education. The authority works with local nonprofits and community colleges to provide job training, youth programs and budgeting support at many of its properties. This focus on economic mobility stands out in a county where hourly wages often fluctuate seasonally and household income can be unpredictable.
Additional housing programs run in partnership with the Housing Authorities
These agencies also coordinate closely with 211 Santa Barbara County, legal aid organizations and the county’s Housing and Community Development Department at https://www.countyofsb.org/270/Housing-Community-Development, This coordination is important because eviction prevention funds, rapid rehousing assistance and tenant-landlord mediation are not administered directly by the housing authorities. Instead, local governments and nonprofits provide short-term rental help or legal support while residents remain on voucher or public housing waiting lists. The housing authorities then move residents into long-term subsidized housing when units or vouchers become available.
The two Santa Barbara Authority offices follows the Housing First Approach, which emphasizes stability and self-sufficiency. However, first the agency is involved in housing the homeless as quickly as possible into shelters or another facility, and then follows up with appropriate supportive services if and when needed. Long term support for future needs can be addressed through voucher programs, such as section 8.
Contact information
The two offices (city and county) have different contact information. Information on the city authority is at https://hacsb.org and details for the county authority are at https://www.hasbarco.org. Or for more details on everything from low income apartments to assistance for the disabled and seniors, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara can be reached at (805) 967-3402 with the main address of 5575 Armitos Ave, Goleta, CA 93117. The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is at 808 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 and dial (805) 965-1071.
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