Housing Resources

Housing Resources

UPDATED as of April 2nd 2025

Affordable Housing Program

The City of Santa Barbara created the Housing Development and Preservation Program with the goal of fostering an inclusive community by facilitating rental housing for low-income households, and ownership housing that is affordable to primarily moderate-income households.

The intent of the Affordable Housing Program is to ensure the availability of affordable housing for all social and economic segments of the community. There are eligibility requirements and income limits set forth by the City, and they vary according to family size and other factors. The City does not own or manage rental properties. Visit their website for a list of owners/managers of affordable rental housing.

CLICK HERE for more info

Self Help Home Ownership Housing Program / Duncan Group

Founded in 1970, the Duncan Group works tirelessly to advocate for affordable housing for low-income populations by encouraging participants to empower themselves when investing their time in constructing a home in a multi-family community environment. Nearly over 1,200 families have been helped to build and purchase their first time homes as the Duncan group teaches the necessary financial and construction skills. The labor requires families to commit to about 12-15 months to build a home alongside ten other families, a collective effort that creates a friendly neighborhood connection and pride.

For more information, visit the website of the Duncan Group

Housing Authority of City of Santa Barbara

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) is an award winning local public agency that provides safe, decent, and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible persons with limited incomes. Some of these resources have eligibility requirements, so please see the details of each program.

HASB’s Workforce Housing Program is aimed at helping the community’s low to moderate income workforce who are often caught between rising rent levels and ineligibility for other assistance. This program hopes to make it possible for more people to be able to live where they work, in Santa Barbara. This approach not only benefits participants by lowering housing and transportation costs, but it also benefits the entire community by minimizing the environmental impact of commuting. For eligibility requirements and more information, visit the Housing Authority’s page on Workforce Housing.

For more information, visit the website of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

Rapid Rehousing Program

The Rapid Rehousing Program works in conjunction with the Financial Crisis Response Team to connect students experiencing housing insecurity to housing resources.

If a student is at an immediate risk of being houseless, they may be eligible for the following:

  • Housing Navigators: Housing navigators are here for any questions you may have regarding housing insecurities, applying for housing or finding housing. Ready to book an appointment? Click here! You can also email them at: HousingAdvocate@sa.ucsb.edu
  • Emergency Transitional Housing: Temporary housing for up to 25 days for students who lack safe and stable housing. Free meal plans and case management are included during a students’ stay.
  • Emergency Housing Grants: One-time emergency rental assistance grants applicable to on and off campus living arrangements. Grant award amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • Case Management: The Financial Crisis Response Team works with students to find long term solutions to students’ basic needs and provides a holistic service in order to connect students to respective basic needs resources on campus as well as in the community.

To be eligible for these programs, students must demonstrate financial need and be enrolled at UCSB at least half-time. Contact the Financial Crisis Response Team (FCRT) to book an appointment to inquire about these programs and start the application process by emailing financialcrisis@sa.ucsb.edu.

Loads of Love Laundry Program

Loads of Love is a program for people in need of laundry assistance, it’s a free service where those struggling financially have the opportunity to launder their clothes at laundromats in Santa Barbara and Goleta. This is a way of caring for people who are struggling financially by helping them in laundering their own clothes and belongings. This program is meant to serv people living on the streets, vehicles, or in shelters, not the public at large. These are drop in events therefore no appointment is required. Volunteers will provide the money and supplies for washing clothes and the limit is 2 loads.

Available: on the last Tuesday of every month at the Isla Vista Laundromat and Launderland Coin-Op.

DVS

Domestic violence survivors and their children may stay in one of their two confidential emergency shelters for up to 60 days. While in their shelters, they receive emotional support, food, clothing, goal planning assistance, advocacy for medical, legal and financial resources, along with any other information and referrals they may need. Additionally, DVS offers permanent project-based Section 8 housing for survivors.

The housing sites are confidential, please contact their 24-hour crisis and information hotline at 805-964-5245, or email info@dvsolutions.org.

Turner Foundation House Program

The Turner Foundation House Program provides housing for young adults experiencing unstable living situations, ranging from living in their cars, couch surfing or sleeping on the streets. They have 5 houses that can house people from ages 18-25. The Turner Foundation focuses on helping students that face significant challenges due to housing and employment barriers. The Turner Foundation offers employment connections, academic support, and weekly case management to ensure students can achieve their individual goals successfully.

For more information on housing options, scholarships, and services visit the website of Turner Foundation

Will Bridge Transistional Housing

A transitional housing facility that has a housing program where residents who demonstrate readiness are able to reside in subsidized housing with 30% of their income solely dedicated towards housing expenses and available services addressing the challenges of securing employment, relationships, education, and the like. Will Bridge encourages participants to move towards independence between 1-4 years after receiving support from its permanent supportive housing program. 

For more information, visit the website of Will Bridge

Financial Crisis Response Team

The financial crisis response team is committed to meet financial housing needs of students, which includes:

  • Rent deposit assistance
  • Housing rent vouchers
  • Cost of attendance adjustments

Documentation is required for recipients to be provided a housing voucher, and they must have accessed their student loan eligibility. If students are unable to provide documentation they must complete and submit a self-certification housing form. Housing vouchers will be awarded to students who are determined to be experiencing a housing emergency. Vouchers can be used for both on-campus and off-campus living arraignments.

To contact the Financial Crisis Response Team (FCRT), you can email them at financialciris@sa.ucsb.edu.