Housing Authority Santa Maria CA Reveals Urgent Priorities
- 01. Housing Authority Santa Maria CA: Complete Guide to Services, Eligibility & Recent Changes
- 02. Core Services Offered in Santa Maria
- 03. Key Recent Changes Sparking Community Debate
- 04. Income Limits & Fair Market Rent Data (2026)
- 05. How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
- 06. Office Locations & Contact Information
- 07. Affordable Housing Properties in Santa Maria
- 08. Community Impact & Future Outlook
Housing Authority Santa Maria CA: Complete Guide to Services, Eligibility & Recent Changes
The Housing Authority Santa Maria CA is served by the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO), which operates a Santa Maria/Guadalupe office at 200 West Williams Street, Santa Maria, CA 93458, phone 925-4393. This agency administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and project-based voucher programs for extremely low-income, very low-income, and low-income residents across Santa Barbara County, including Santa Maria's 16 affordable housing complexes with 245 Section 8 apartments and 142 public housing buildings.
Core Services Offered in Santa Maria
HASBARCO provides three primary housing assistance programs to Santa Maria residents, each with distinct application processes and eligibility requirements based on federal HUD guidelines.
- Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (Tenant-Based): Allows families to rent private-market units while paying 30% of income; waitlist currently closed since May 2018
- Project-Based Voucher (PBV): Provides rental assistance at specific buildings; applications accepted year-round through HASBARCO website
- Public Housing: Directly owned apartments like Evans Park (4 accessible units at 213 W Williams St); waitlist currently open as of February 2026
Key Recent Changes Sparking Community Debate
Housing Authority Santa Maria CA changes spark debate following two major developments in 2024-2026: the Project Homekey Motel 6 conversion proposal and federal housing assistance rule changes affecting immigrant families.
On January 4, 2024, Santa Barbara County Supervisor Steve Lavagnino pulled the Project Homekey proposal from the Board of Supervisors' consent agenda after Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, Councilmember Etta Waterfield, and police department members opposed converting a Motel 6 on East Main Street into 75 permanent homeless housing units without community input. The $21.5 million project ($18M state + $3.5M county) would include six resource office rooms.
Additionally, a proposed federal rule from HUD Secretary Scott Turner could disqualify 302 Santa Barbara County families from housing assistance if households include both eligible U.S. citizens and ineligible immigrants, forcing families to choose between separation or homelessness.
Income Limits & Fair Market Rent Data (2026)
Eligibility for affordable housing programs depends on household size and income relative to Santa Barbara County area median income (AMI), with HUD updating limits annually.
| Household Size | Extremely Low (30% AMI) | Very Low (50% AMI) | Low (80% AMI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | $26,250 | $43,750 | $70,050 |
| 2 Persons | $30,000 | $50,000 | $80,050 |
| 3 Persons | $33,750 | $56,250 | $90,050 |
| 4 Persons | $37,450 | $62,450 | $100,050 |
| 5 Persons | $40,450 | $67,450 | $108,100 |
| 6 Persons | $43,450 | $72,450 | $116,100 |
Fair Market Rent for Santa Barbara County ranges from $2,330 for studios to $4,528 for 4-bedroom units, with subsidized properties typically charging 30% of household income.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
Applicants must follow specific application procedures depending on which program they seek, with documentation requirements including proof of income, citizenship/immigration status, and family size.
- Determine eligibility: Verify income falls below 80% AMI for your household size using the table above
- Choose program type: Select between tenant-based vouchers, project-based vouchers, or public housing
- Submit application: Visit HASBARCO website at hasbarco.org or call 736-3423 (main) or 925-4393 (Santa Maria office)
- Provide documentation: Submit birth certificates, Social Security cards, pay stubs, and tax returns for all household members
- Attend interview: Schedule in-person interview at 200 W Williams St, Santa Maria, CA 93458 during business hours Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm
- Wait for placement: Public housing waitlist currently open; Section 8 tenant-based waitlist closed since May 31, 2018 with 11,000 people on countywide list
Office Locations & Contact Information
HASBARCO operates four offices across Santa Barbara County to serve diverse communities, with the Santa Maria office providing direct access to valley residents.
| Office Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative (Lompoc) | 815 West Ocean Avenue, Lompoc, 93436 | 736-3423 |
| Santa Maria/Guadalupe | 200 West Williams, Santa Maria, 93454 | 925-4393 |
| Goleta | 5575 Armitos Ave, Goleta, 93117 | 967-3402 |
| Section 8 (Lompoc) | 817 West Ocean Ave, Lompoc, 93436 | 735-8351 |
Toll-free number for state residents: 433-0333.
Affordable Housing Properties in Santa Maria
Santa Maria contains 16 affordable housing complexes including Evans Park (4 public housing units with 93/100 HUD inspection score), Union Plaza at 120 N Broadway, andLIHTC properties like Westgate Courtyards (204 units) and Los Adobes De Maria II (52 units).
Evans Park at 213 W Williams St Apt A demonstrates quality public housing with all 4 units accessible, excellent HUD scores, and waitlist managed directly by HASBARCO.
Community Impact & Future Outlook
The Santa Maria City Council approved the "Santa Maria 2045 General Plan" on May 5, 2026, creating opportunities for dense downtown housing and addressing projected growth of nearly 60,000 new residents and 16,000+ new housing units by 2045. This plan complements HASBARCO's mission to serve extremely low-income households representing 30% of area median income.
With a $7M shortfall predicted by 2025 and housing authorities across California stopping Section 8 voucher issuance, Santa Maria residents face increased competition for limited resources while advocacy groups push back against restrictive federal proposals.
Helpful tips and tricks for Housing Authority Santa Maria Ca Reveals Urgent Priorities
What housing authority serves Santa Maria CA?
The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO) serves Santa Maria, operating a dedicated Santa Maria/Guadalupe office at 200 West Williams Street with phone 925-4393.
Is the Section 8 waiting list open in Santa Maria?
The tenant-based Section 8 waitlist has been closed since May 31, 2018 with 11,000 people on the countywide list, but the project-based voucher program accepts applications year-round and public housing waitlist is currently open as of February 2026.
What are the income limits for housing assistance in Santa Maria?
For a 4-person household in Santa Barbara County, extremely low income (30% AMI) is $37,450, very low income (50% AMI) is $62,450, and low income (80% AMI) is $100,050, with limits updated annually by HUD.
How much does rent cost in public housing Santa Maria?
Tenants in public housing like Evans Park typically pay 30% of their household income as rent, with Fair Market Rent ranging from $2,330 (studio) to $4,528 (4-bedroom) in Santa Barbara County.
What recent changes affected the Santa Maria housing authority?
Two major changes sparked debate: the 2024 Project Homekey Motel 6 conversion proposal for 75 homeless housing units that faced city council opposition, and a 2025 federal rule proposal that could disqualify 302 mixed-status families from assistance.
Does HASBARCO serve undocumented immigrants?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of non-citizens with eligible immigration status, but mixed-status households face potential disqualification under proposed federal rules threatening 302 county families.
