Housing Authority Sees 20 Percent Surge in Food Assistance Need Across Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Organizers of the Goleta Food Panty reports food requests at the have jumped 20 percent from last year, serving Housing Authority residents and community members in need.

Weekly distributions through the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County are helping families and neighbors stretch tight budgets.

Many residents say they are struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise.

“You have no idea how much this helps me. It’s just with everything that’s going on everywhere nowadays, it’s just a load off," said participant Debbie Faulkenberg.

"My main concern is people, barely their daily needs with the resources that they have and those resources are dwindling," saod executive director and CEO Rob Fredericks of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara.