Low Income & Subsidized Housing in Santa Barbara, CA
There are 30 subsidized and income-restricted properties in Santa Barbara with roughly 1,395 assisted units — including 17 project-based Section 8 buildings, 0 public housing developments, and 28 LIHTC tax-credit communities, according to HUD administrative data. Reported tenant-paid rents across these buildings range from about $476 to $592 per month.
30
assisted properties
1,395
subsidized units
$534
typical rent
—
median wait
Map of subsidized housing in Santa Barbara
Complete directory of subsidized housing in Santa Barbara
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positano Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 118 | — | — |
| Villa Santa Fe Apts I LIHTCPB Section 8 | 107 | — | — |
| De La Vina Frail Seniors LIHTC | 98 | — | — |
| Villa Caridad §202 Senior | 94 | $476 | — |
| The Gardens on Hope LIHTCPB Section 8 | 90 | — | — |
| Pilgrim Terrace LIHTCPB Section 8 | 83 | $548 | — |
| St Vincent's Garden LIHTCPB Section 8 | 75 | — | — |
| El Patio Community Housing LIHTC | 73 | — | — |
| El Carrillo Apts LIHTC | 62 | — | — |
| Villa La Cumbre LIHTC | 60 | — | — |
| Villa Santa Fe Apts Ii LIHTCPB Section 8 | 60 | — | — |
| Artisan Court Apts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 56 | — | — |
| Bradley Studios LIHTCPB Section 8 | 54 | — | — |
| Mha Garden Street Apts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 51 | — | — |
| Presidio Park Apts PB Section 8 | 50 | $592 | — |
| El Patio Community Housing Phase Ii LIHTC | 40 | — | — |
| Jardin de Las Rosas LIHTCPB Section 8 | 40 | — | — |
| Hotel de Riviera LIHTC | 30 | — | — |
| Vera Cruz Village LIHTCPB Section 8 | 29 | — | — |
| Sycamore Gardens LIHTCPB Section 8 | 20 | — | — |
| Cottage Gardens Apts LIHTC | 17 | — | — |
| Johnson Court LIHTCPB Section 8 | 17 | — | — |
| Mom's Apts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 15 | — | — |
| Pearl Gardens LIHTCPB Section 8 | 15 | — | — |
| Rancheria Village Apts LIHTC | 14 | — | — |
| Casas Las Granadas LIHTCPB Section 8 | 12 | — | — |
| East Canon Perdido LIHTC | 7 | — | — |
| Canyon Croft LIHTC | 4 | — | — |
| 1313 Castillo St LIHTC | 3 | — | — |
| 657 San Felipe Dr LIHTC | 1 | — | — |
Section 8 apartments in Santa Barbara (project-based)
These buildings carry HUD Section 8 contracts attached to the units — apply at each management office rather than through the voucher waitlist. How project-based Section 8 works →
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positano Apartments LIHTCPB Section 8 | 118 | — | — |
| Villa Santa Fe Apts I LIHTCPB Section 8 | 107 | — | — |
| The Gardens on Hope LIHTCPB Section 8 | 90 | — | — |
| Pilgrim Terrace LIHTCPB Section 8 | 83 | $548 | — |
| St Vincent's Garden LIHTCPB Section 8 | 75 | — | — |
| Villa Santa Fe Apts Ii LIHTCPB Section 8 | 60 | — | — |
| Artisan Court Apts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 56 | — | — |
| Bradley Studios LIHTCPB Section 8 | 54 | — | — |
| Mha Garden Street Apts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 51 | — | — |
| Presidio Park Apts PB Section 8 | 50 | $592 | — |
| Jardin de Las Rosas LIHTCPB Section 8 | 40 | — | — |
| Vera Cruz Village LIHTCPB Section 8 | 29 | — | — |
| Sycamore Gardens LIHTCPB Section 8 | 20 | — | — |
| Johnson Court LIHTCPB Section 8 | 17 | — | — |
| Mom's Apts LIHTCPB Section 8 | 15 | — | — |
LIHTC & affordable tax-credit apartments in Santa Barbara
Tax-credit units rent below market rate for households within income bands (often 30–60% of Area Median Income). Understanding LIHTC →
| Property | Units | Avg rent | Reported wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| De La Vina Frail Seniors LIHTC | 98 | — | — |
| El Patio Community Housing LIHTC | 73 | — | — |
| El Carrillo Apts LIHTC | 62 | — | — |
| Villa La Cumbre LIHTC | 60 | — | — |
| El Patio Community Housing Phase Ii LIHTC | 40 | — | — |
| Hotel de Riviera LIHTC | 30 | — | — |
| Cottage Gardens Apts LIHTC | 17 | — | — |
| Rancheria Village Apts LIHTC | 14 | — | — |
| East Canon Perdido LIHTC | 7 | — | — |
| Canyon Croft LIHTC | 4 | — | — |
| 1313 Castillo St LIHTC | 3 | — | — |
| 657 San Felipe Dr LIHTC | 1 | — | — |
How to apply for subsidized housing in Santa Barbara
- Apply to buildings directly. Project-based Section 8, public housing, §202/§811 and LIHTC properties run their own waitlists — contact each office using the details on its page.
- Join voucher waitlists. Your regional housing authority administers Housing Choice Vouchers; ask about current openings and preferences. Step-by-step application guide →
- Document everything. ID, Social Security cards, birth certificates, and income proof speed up both paths.
- Stay reachable. Update your address everywhere — missed mail is the top reason applicants lose spots.
Nearby cities with low income housing
- Carpinteria, CA
- Goleta, CA
- Guadalupe, CA
- Lompoc, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fresno, CA
Data: HUD Picture of Subsidized Households & LIHTC database (2024 vintage). Figures are administrative averages — confirm current availability with each property.