The new Low Income Household Water Assistance Program can help those who are struggling financially and are unable to afford their water bills.
"It's designed to help pay past due and current charges for waste water and water bills, explained Kemba Lawrence, Program Director of CommUnify’s Community Services department – they are the organization in Santa Barbara County who are providing the payment assistance, which is from a state-funded program.
She explained that they were finding that residents were struggling to pay electrical and gas bills, since the pandemic caused extra financial hardships, and programs existed to help families in need.
"The water also became an issue because of financial burdens," she explained, "So this is an extra program that has been added."
Eligibility requirements and details on how to apply are here.