Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

Waiting Lists

Learn more about Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara.

Open Soon: Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Section 8 Project-Based Voucher

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept Section 8 Project-Based Voucher waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application.

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Service Area

This waiting list is for Section 8 Project-Based Voucher rental assistance in Santa Barbara, California .

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

IMPORTANT: This is not the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Section 8 Project-Based Voucher tenants are required to live in a specific apartment community or scattered site. After one year of occupancy, a Project-Based Voucher tenant may request to be placed on a waiting list to receive the next available Housing Choice Voucher or similar tenant-based rental assistance.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Open Soon: Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Senior Section 8 Project-Based Voucher

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept Senior Section 8 Project-Based Voucher waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application.

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Service Area

This waiting list is for Senior Section 8 Project-Based Voucher rental assistance in Santa Barbara, California .

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

IMPORTANT: This is not the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Section 8 Project-Based Voucher tenants are required to live in a specific apartment community or scattered site. After one year of occupancy, a Project-Based Voucher tenant may request to be placed on a waiting list to receive the next available Housing Choice Voucher or similar tenant-based rental assistance.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Open Soon: Senior Housing - Unsubsidized Low-Income

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept Senior Housing – Unsubsidized waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

Please note: According to the HACSB, "Eligible applicants must be at least 62 years old."

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application.

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Open Soon: Workforce Housing Low-Income

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept Workforce Housing units waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Open Soon: Supportive Housing Low-Income

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept Supportive Housing waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application.

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Open Soon: Downtown Workforce Housing Low-Income

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept Workforce Housing units waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Open Soon: Johnson Court Low-Income

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept Johnson Court waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

Please note: According to the HASB, "Subsidized studio units designated for Veterans, operated by the City Housing Authority with on-site supportive services...Units will be offered only to those applicants who do not own, drive or regularly use a vehicle." More information can be found here.

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application.

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Open Soon: El Carrillo Low-Income

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HASB) will accept El Carrillo waiting list applications from May 1, 2023, until further notice.

To apply during the opening period, complete the online application.

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the HASB website.

Sources: This information was verified by the HASB public notice on March 10, 2023.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (805) 965-1071.

Last Updated on 03/24/2023.

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Closed: Santa Barbara, California Section 8 HCV

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is closed.

The HACSB last accepted applications for this waiting list from May 2, 2022, until June 17, 2022. There is no notice of when this waiting list will reopen.

To apply during the opening period, applicants were required to complete the online application.

This waiting list had the following preferences:

  • Families
  • Seniors
  • Disabled individuals

Selected applicants were placed on the waiting list by date and time the application was received, by order of preferences.

For more information, visit the HACSB website.

Sources: This information was verified by HACSB on May 3, 2022, and updated on May 17, 2022.

Service Area

This waiting list is for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance in Santa Barbara, California.

Last Updated on 10/30/2022.

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About Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

808 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, CA | Visit Website | (805) 965-1071

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara provides affordable housing for up to 2,733 low and moderate income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing programs..

In addition, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara offers other programs for eligible households, including:

  • Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
  • Section 8 Project-Based Voucher (PBV)
  • Family Unification Program (FUP)

Housing Authority Jurisdiction

Low-income housing managed by Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA.

Households with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher managed by this housing authority must rent within its jurisdiction.

Office Hours

Open today from 7:30am to 5:30pm PT.

Closed on alternate Fridays

Day Hours
Monday 7:30am-5:30pm
Tuesday 7:30am-5:30pm
Wednesday 7:30am-5:30pm
Thursday 7:30am-5:30pm
Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

About the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara manages 2,556 active Housing Choice Vouchers.

The following table summarizes types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2021:

Standard Family Unification Ported Out VASH Non-Elderly Disabled
Vouchers 2,048 32 17 8 91
Monthly Cost Per Voucher $1,239 $1,219 $1,143 $1,228 $1,256
Monthly Cost $2,537,702 $39,003 $19,428 $9,823 $114,273
Waiting List and Tenancy

According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 14% having issued approximately 173 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 8 years and 6 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 62 months on the waiting list1.

Income Characteristics

According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 1.9 persons and has a household income of $19,457 per year. 90% of households were very low income (VLI) and 64% were extremely low income (ELI). 30% of households had wages as a major source of income, 2% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 67% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.

Heads of Household Characteristics

1% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 32% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 21% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 46% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 5% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.

26% of households included children, 5% of which had two adults in the household. 21% of households with children have a female head of household. 64% of all households were headed by a female.

54% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 5% of all heads of households being Black and 0% being Hispanic.

Of all households participating in the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Housing Choice Voucher program, 25% include at least one person with a disability. 43% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 43% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.

Bedroom Size and Overhousing

63% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 26% with 2 bedrooms and 11% with 3 or more bedrooms. 4% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.

Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances

The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara voucher holders in 2016 was $494 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $1,217. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $64.

1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.