United Way Expands Resiliency Grants to Support Families in Santa Barbara County
Patricia Martellotti
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Thousands of families in Santa Barbara County are struggling with bills they can’t cover.
“People are already finding it challenging to keep up with housing stability … and then unexpected events happen … a medical issue … an accident … which puts them further behind,” said program manager Raquel Sanchez of United Way of Santa Barbara County.
United Way is stepping in along with several new partners.
“So we’ve been onboarding new case management partners … the work is growing and we have an engaged network that is ready to partner with us and support us,” said manager of marketing and strategic development Marina Hudgens of United Way of Santa Barbara.
Requests for assistance have surged in recent months as more households face financial challenges.
“This is a really unique partnership with cross sector agencies … people in housing assistance … people in domestic violence solutions … people who are serving a variety of needs in the community,” said Hudgens.
The United Way team hopes this expansion will reach more families in need throughout the community.
“We’re gonna be able to get a lot of interesting data on what our community really needs … and where those service gaps are … that we can then address as a collaborative,” said Hudgens.
Fifteen local service agencies have now joined the program, including CommuniCare, Carpinteria Children’s Project, New Beginnings, and City Net, to extend help across the county.
“My hope is we continue to find support either from county programs or a donor dollar to continue to fill this need,” said Sanchez.
United Way leaders believe the effort is creating more than stability — it’s fostering lasting resilience in our community.United Way’s Resiliency Grants program is growing in Santa Barbara County, aiming to reach more families facing urgent financial challenges.
The program underscores a collaborative approach among local agencies to tackle rising financial pressures and ensure families have access to immediate help.
The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.