With California's eviction ban expiring September 30, Santa Barbara County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which is being handled through United Way of Santa Barbara County, is now accepting applications for residents to receive relief for debt accrued through the pandemic.
According to a statement from the county, the program is open to county households with an annual income “at or below 80 percent” of the area median income, which for Santa Barbara residents would be those who make below roughly $60,000 a year, those who have experienced a loss of income due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic, or those who are at risk of homelessness or housing instability.
Qualified applicants can receive relief for unpaid rent or utility debt dating back to March 2020.