The Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative’s longevity as affordable housing is at risk due to unexpected renovation costs, which have outpaced rental rate increases. The board has begun fundraising efforts to keep their rates affordable, with a goal of $40,000 by June 30.

The Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative (SBSHC), founded in 1976 and located throughout Isla Vista, aims to provide inclusive spaces, “regardless of gender, race, social, political or religious affiliation,” through affordable student housing for 95 students in their multiple themed houses and apartments. The houses include Biko, Dolores, Manley, Merton and Newman. 

According to Director of Member Services and Co-op alum Anbareen Shefa, the Co-op bases its rent rates on the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development fair market rate for Santa Barbara County (SBC), as well as capping rental rates to 75% or less of the I.V. market rates. That means the co-op houses are more affordable comparative to the standard market rate of I.V. housing.

Shefa estimated the Co-op’s average rent price for a double occupancy room to be around $1,000, which includes rent, utilities, a meal plan and basic supplies such as cleaning products. 

The Co-op underwent several large renovations this fiscal year, however, that exceeded its annual budget, including renovating all the Newman house bathrooms and remodeling the Merton house. These projects revealed unexpected renovations, along with increasing material costs, significantly draining their budget. Shefa said that the Co-op aims to always address students’ needs, despite the costs. 

“Those renovations did go a little bit higher than what we were anticipating to spend, but our organization was started by students who were fighting against the slum lords of Isla Vista,” Shefa said. “Our desire is always to have quality housing. And so we made sure that we got those repairs done to make sure that our homes are habitable, welcoming, safe and inclusive to the community.”

Board Treasurer and fifth-year environmental studies major Catrina Sada, who currently resides in Dolores house, said that fundraising efforts are critical so that the Co-op can keep their low-interest rate mortgage without raising rent. 

“Getting back into good financial standing is going to ensure the longevity of our houses because it’s going to make it so that this bank wants to continue lending to us at a lower interest rate, because right now the terms of our loan are really favorable,” Sada said.

SBSHC Executive Director Marcelino Sepulveda stressed that the Co-op is more than just affordable student housing. He said it is the action of a “radical community seeking to divest from banks and build alternative institutions,” which facilitates increased support for local businesses.

“The Co-op is a direct action place where people can effect change and make a difference. It can keep money in the community, can provide local jobs, can support local small-scale farmers, local producers, create a local marketplace and we can build our community hub that reflects our values and meets our needs,” Sepulveda said. 

Sepulveda believes that preserving the Co-op is essential in the current political climate and the growing cost of living, with the average rent in I.V. costing $1,500 a month.

“This is just so critical right now, because we’re being so disenfranchised by the Trump administration and Elon Musk and the billionaires that are burning up our world,” Sepulveda said. 

Shefa, who lived in several SBSHC properties from 2013 to 2017, says that living in the Co-op was a very “powerful” experience that fostered strong communities and relationships that have lasted for over a decade. 

“I come from a large family, and I found a second family in the co-ops. It has been over a decade since I first moved in, and some of these people that I was living with are my close family,” Shefa said. “I actually currently am living with somebody that I had first been assigned to be a roommate with 12 years ago. So it is a really great opportunity for individuals to meet others, to build community and to just grow.” 

Sada said the Co-op provides both emotional and physical support by fostering community and providing services, such as shared meals that the houses have five nights a week.

“I get a lot of emotional support from my housemates. When I come home after a hard day, there’s always someone waiting with a hug,” Sada said. “I think the food is really big for me, like the fact that we eat dinner together five nights a week, and it’s so nourishing and wonderful.” 

Sepulveda has worked for SBSHC for the past five years, but has been around the Co-ops since the late 1990s when he was a student at UC Santa Barbara through friends who lived in them. He said he has noticed that living in the co-ops is a transformative experience for students who often leave as activists and community leaders. 

“Having this alternative experience of what the world can be like impacts who they are when they graduate and go out into the world and remain committed to this experience and these values. So I feel like our organization is our little part of creating a better world,” Sepulveda said. 

A version of this article appeared on p. 3 of the May 8, 2025 print edition of the Daily Nexus.