Quick Take
Thirty-seven unhoused Santa Cruz County residents died over the course of 2025, out of an estimated 1,728 total homeless residents. While that is just half the number who died in 2024, it is still about 1 out of every 42 people experiencing homelessness in the county.
Nearly 100 community members gathered at the Santa Cruz Portuguese Hall near Harvey West Park on Friday to mourn those who died over the past year and share memories at the county’s 26th annual homeless memorial. Attendees sat in seats on the left and right side of the room, leaving room for about 10 rows of empty chairs in the middle, signifying the lives lost.
“For more than two decades, this gathering has been a vital local tradition, one that’s rooted in remembrance and dignity,” said Sam Altis of the Association of Faith Communities. “It’s a reminder, and also a public declaration that each of our lives have value and deserve to be honored, regardless of our housing status.”
Deaths among the unhoused population in Santa Cruz County dropped 50% in 2025 compared to 2024, meaning 37 people died on the streets through Nov. 30, according to data from the Homeless Persons’ Health Project, amounting to over 2% of people experiencing homelessness in the county. While that is a meaningful year-over-year decrease, the data shows that it is still 1 of every 42 people experiencing homelessness.
Various homeless services providers such as the county’s Housing for Health Division, the Homeless Persons’ Health Project and nonprofit Housing Matters organized the event. The Santa Cruz Threshold Singers sang as attendees entered the building to pay their respects.
“People experiencing homelessness continue to face profound health inequities and significantly shortened life expectancies,” said Housing for Health manager Carlos Nuño.
Following Altis’ introduction, several speakers from homeless services providers came to the podium and read the names of all 37 unhoused residents who died in 2025, followed by a moment of silence.
As attendees filtered to the front of the room to remember those who passed away, Homeless Garden Project Executive Director Darrie Ganzhorn spoke of a program trainee and graduate, Karen Chappell, who died this year. Ganzhorn said Chappell had taken a job at a New Leaf Community Markets deli after graduating from the Homeless Garden Project program, and when she passed, her colleagues had nothing but good memories.
Serg Kagno, executive director of the homelessness nonprofit Stepping Up Santa Cruz, and a friend named Alie Soares spoke about their friend named Marco Perez, who passed away in 2024. Kagno showed a picture of Perez posing with U.S. Rep Jimmy Panetta when the two met at an event.
“Marco was my best friend. We had a date for the holidays so that we wouldn’t be alone, and I missed him last year,” said Soares. “That was the first year we were supposed to make sure we were together for the holidays.”
Joe Price, a county behavioral health employee who was previously homeless, spoke of a woman named Betty Scott, who worked at The Loft shelter on Coral Street during the time when Price lived on the streets. Price recalled her warmth and commitment to service despite her being homeless herself.
“She didn’t complain or say anything about her personal life. All she did was continue to be in service,” he said. “She always welcomed people with a warm smile, a towel, a toothbrush, and prayed for them every time they walked in.”
Price said that as someone who now works in homelessness services, he sees and hears of people dying every day. But he’s grateful for the opportunity to come together: “These things right here always touch my heart.”
Food Not Bombs and the Santa Cruz Homeless Union will host their own memorial on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the town clock.
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