‘A covenant of hope’: Watsonville’s tiny village homeless housing on track for December opening

The 34-unit “tiny village” shelter in Watsonville, intended to house residents living along the Pajaro River levee, is on track to open its doors in December before the rainy season begins, according to Monterey County officials. 

Elected officials from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were given a tour of the property Friday afternoon by project developers, San Francisco-based nonprofit Dignity Moves. Construction on the “tiny village” began in late July and is expected to finish in mid-November, said Roxanne Wilson, homelessness services director for Monterey County. 

The project, funded by an $8 million state grant set to expire next year, is a collaboration between both counties to address the high number of homeless residents living along the Pajaro River levee, many of whom have been recently displaced due to ongoing sweeps. 

First proposed in 2023, the project will be made up of 28 individual single-bed shelters, two double units for couples, and four Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant units, which will allow for up to 36 people to live in the village. Residents will have access to a laundry room, four shared bathrooms, and a small kitchen area — which will all reside on the property of Westview Presbyterian Church. 

Pet owners will also be able to keep their dogs and cats in their living units, said Wilson. She told Lookout that her team and the “tiny village” service providers, Watsonville-based Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, are still figuring out if they’ll allow residents to bring more than one pet. There will also be an area for pets to go to the bathroom near the shelter’s entrance. 

Crews have already installed the 34 living units at the church property, each sitting feet above the ground. The single-bed spaces are 67 square units in size — about the size of a walk-in closet — while the double units for couples are 134 square feet. Each of the units will have a small window and air conditioning.  The units have wood panels along the exterior with a white door that has a large window to allow natural light inside the space.  

Photo gallery: See inside Watsonville’s ‘tiny village’

Wilson told Lookout that crews still need to add fencing around the perimeter of the village and restripe the church’s parking lot, along with adding in the storage and kitchen area. 

The project faced multiple delays after residents expressed concerns over “homelessness-related” crimes in the neighborhood surrounding Westview Presbyterian Church. Resident Catalina Torres also filed two appeals, to both the Watsonville’s planning commission and city council, in an effort to block the project from moving forward. Both appeals were denied. 

“It hasn’t been smooth sailing for almost two years,” Wilson said. “So, to see the very first units come in, I was here when they arrived. I couldn’t help but to feel this overwhelming sense of emotion, because so many times I felt like it’s not going to happen.”

With the opening of the project still months away, Community Action Board’s homelessness outreach team has continued to visit the Pajaro River levee,checking in on clients who have been displaced due to an ongoing encampment cleanup. 

Ultimately, residents will be chosen for spots in the tiny village on a case-by-case basis, said Mike Kittredge, homelessness prevention and intervention services director for CAB. The nonprofit has already helped several displaced levee residents into temporary housing programs and hotels in the meantime, said Kittredge. So far, CAB’s outreach team has been able to place a few residents into hotels, and others into facilities to address substance abuse issues. 

Kittredge told Lookout that CAB is also planning to launch an “adopt-a-room” program, where people or organizations can help furnish units. Community members interested in donating items such as bedding, hygiene supplies and room decor, are encouraged to fill out an online survey. 

“This is really the opportunity to invite the community and so many people support this is one way that they can give back and help really make this space a home,” said Kittredge. 

District 4 Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, who was on the tour, said the project represents collaboration and a shared commitment to addressing homelessness in the Pajaro Valley. “This shelter is more than just a building or a program or a project. It’s a covenant of hope, hope that people can sleep safely, hope that healing is possible, and hope that no one in our community is forgotten,” he said. 

The project will help people move out of homelessness at a faster rate and into safe, dignified homes, said Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo. At its core, the project is about something bigger, he said – it demonstrates that with help people can get out of homelessness and into permanent housing so they can move forward and have a better quality of life. 

“Homlessness, as we all know, cannot be solved alone. It cannot be solved overnight,” said Alejo. “But with partnerships, like this, we can create a model rooted in hope and results, one that has an immediate impact, while building progress towards long-term change.” 

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