Background
No matter the economic climate, it is difficult for many of our local neighbors to make ends meet on a daily basis, let alone make economic progress.
Individuals and families also need access to the tools needed to increase income, build savings, and gain and sustain assets. United Way is a critical part of both efforts - ensuring that families have the basics to achieve an independent lifestyle and financial stability.
For families walking a financial tightrope, unable to make ends meet or save for college, a home, or retirement, United Way of Santa Barbara County is here to help.
Our Goal
In 2010, United Way of Santa Barbara County launched a 10-year Financial Stability Initiative to accomplish the following goals:
- Increase by 50% the number of lower income families who are financially stable.
- Increase by 30% the number of seniors, and their families, who report feeling safer in their homes and neighborhoods.
These important community goals require the integrated assistance of businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, education, and the community at large.
Our Strategy
To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families from getting ahead financially, we launched the Financial Stability Initiative to promote community-change strategies to help families meet their basic needs, while gaining the financial capability to plan for, and accomplish, their long-term financial goals.
Our Programs
| #529 College Savings Plans | Affordable Housing Partnerships |
| Community Eviction Assistance Programs | EITC: Earned Income Tax Credit |
| Emergency Savings Accounts | Family Senior Caregiver Respite Programs |
| Financial Empowerment Partnership | Financial Literacy Training and Workshops |
| Mega Tax Day | Senior Caregiver Coalition |
| VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance |
How You Can Help
Volunteers make United Ways’ tax assistance and financial education programs possible. We need your help, even if you don’t have an accounting background. Volunteer now to help.
Partners Include:
American Indian & Health Services - Art From Scrap - Assistance League of Santa Barbara - Cancer Center of Santa Barbara - Carpinteria Unified School District - City of Santa Barbara - City of Santa Maria - Community Action Commission - Cornelia Moore Dental Foundation - Cottage Hospital - Easy Lift - Family Service Agency - Foodbank of Santa Barbara County - Goleta Union School Districts - Guadalupe Dunes Center Collaborative - Montecito Bank & Trust - Santa Barbara Bank & Trust - Santa Barbara City College - Santa Barbara Museum of Art - Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History - Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics - Santa Barbara Unified School Districts - UCSB - Wells Fargo Bank - Westmont College - Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara - Plus dozens more!