Debt Free Santa Barbara County

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Help Our Neighbors in Santa Barbara County Break Free from Medical Debt

Medical debt is one of the greatest financial burdens facing American households today, impacting more than one-third of families nationwide.

But this isn’t just a national problem. It’s a local one.

Right here in Santa Barbara County, an estimated 7,000 of our neighbors have medical debt that’s created financial hardship. And they did nothing wrong. A trip to the emergency room, a hospital stay, or a frightening diagnosis was enough to create what’s felt like a permanent burden.

But here’s the great news: it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Last year, a dozen local churches came together and raised $19,354. Through Undue Medical Debt, that single act of generosity eliminated $1.8 million in medical debt for families in our county. No applications. No hoops. Just real relief for real people.

Now, the opportunity in front of us is even greater.

Right now in 2026 we have a clear path to eliminate $12.9 million in medical debt in Santa Barbara County by raising just $54,000. Because of how this debt was acquired, for every $1 given, $238 of medical debt will be erased.

That means:

Every $42 will eliminate $10,000 of medical debt
Every $4,200 will eliminate $1,000,000 of medical debt

This is a rare moment where churches, businesses, and organizations can come together to make a positive and lasting impact in our community. Our partnership will bring financial freedom, peace of mind, and renewed hope to thousands of neighbors across Santa Barbara County.

Undue Medical Debt is a 501(c)(3) charity, and your donation is 100% tax deductible. If you have any questions about your donation, please contact Michelle Santoro, Associate Director of Philanthropy, at [email protected]

Join us. Give today and share this initiative widely to help our neighbors move into a healthy future.

Campaign Support Recipients

Santa Barbara County, California

Campaign donations will show on website within 1 business day of gift submission.

How Undue Works

Over a hundred million Americans, one in three, struggles with the weight of medical debt.

Who We Help

Debt Resources

You make a donation
- We use data analytics to pinpoint the debt of those most in need: households that earn less than 4x the federal poverty level (varies by state, family size) or whose debts are 5% or more of annual income.
Undue buys medical debt at a steep discount
- We buy debt in bundles, millions of dollars at a time at a fraction of the original cost. This means your donation relieves about 100x its value in medical debt.
Together we wipe out medical debt
- People across the country receive letters that their debt has been erased. They have no tax consequences or penalties to consider. Just like that, they’re free of medical debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes. We are a 501(c)(3) charity and your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Who qualifies for medical debt relief?

We provide debt relief based on financial need. To qualify, an individual must either:

Earn at or below 400% of the federal poverty level
Have medical debt that exceeds 5% of their income

These criteria are built into our system and apply to all debt we purchase. We do not collect or require information about immigration status. We also cannot target relief based on medical condition, age, or other personal characteristics.

We never collect on the debt we purchase, only relieve it.

Do recipients of debt relief have any adverse consequences?

No. With your help, we abolish medical debt permanently. Recipients have no adverse tax consequences, obligations or strings attached.

Medical debt relief is a gift from a detached and disinterested third party (Undue) as an act of generosity, so relief of the debt does not count as income to the debtor. We will not file a Form 1099-C with the IRS.

Can donors see whose debt is relieved by their donation?

Due to HIPAA laws, Undue Medical Debt cannot disclose the names, contact information or any other specific details of the debt relief beneficiaries.

Can I apply for debt relief?

Undue Medical Debt cannot relieve debt by individual request.

While we would love to help everyone who needs assistance, Undue cannot abolish medical debt for specific individuals. We acquire large, bundled portfolios of debt to help thousands of people at once and we can only erase debts that providers like hospitals and physicians are willing to sell to us.

Because medical debt affects so many people who may not have debt accounts in the portfolios we purchase, we have compiled a list of resources that may be able to help.

About Undue

Undue Medical Debt is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit which leverages donations to buy large, bundled medical debts at steep discounts, providing immediate, no strings attached relief to financially vulnerable families. On average one dollar donated erases $100 of medical debt. We also help people with medical debt share their stories, which informs our approach to fixing the healthcare system, whether by policy solutions or collaborating with likeminded partners.