The financial pain inflicted by coronavirus cancellations and closures is affecting all levels of Santa Barbara commerce, from publicly-traded entities like Sonos and Deckers to small locally owned businesses to individual workers and their families.
Hit especially hard are people who can’t work from home, including employees in the restaurant and hospitality sectors, as well as those who make a living by touching others, i.e. barbers, masseuses, and so on. Event planners and performers are similarly hurting, as are tutors, house cleaners, personal trainers — the list goes on.
Many aren’t sure where to turn for financial help during what has evolved into a full-blown crisis. Private, nonprofit, and government assistance programs are struggling just to keep up. But there are options out there, and if there’s any silver lining, it’s that a number of different groups are starting to partner in effective and inspiring ways.