The California Coastal Commission scuttled the City of Santa Cruz’s plans to extend its controversial oversized vehicle ordinance to a five-year program. County Supervisor Justin Cummings, who sits on the commission, successfully pushed for a two-year extension instead to assess the OVO’s effects on coastal access during the peak tourist season.
homelessness
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Much of California’s homeless population is stuck in cycles of substance use. These strategies can help
Many Californians experiencing homelessness do not have access to the kind of care they need to overcome substance use disorder, which is almost always a significant barrier to finding stable employment or securing permanent housing. Kimberly Knopik, who has faced homelessness and issues with mental health and substance abuse, writes about what she’s learned.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In the Public Interest: New era of policing vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County pushes complaints, violations into public view
News and notes on Santa Cruz County politics and policy from Lookout’s Christopher Neely.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Street sweeping program criticized for targeting houseless residents earns preliminary approval in Santa Cruz
On Wednesday, the City of Santa Cruz’s zoning administrator approved a coastal permit for a street sweeping pilot in the Harvey West area, part of the Westside and in Seabright. The program, which has drawn criticism from advocates for the unhoused community who say the city’s aim is to punish people living in their cars, still needs to be approved by the city council.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California fails to track its homelessness spending or results, a new audit says
There’s so little data available, it’s impossible to even tell if several of California’s largest homelessness programs are working, according to a statewide audit released Tuesday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Prop 1’s narrow victory brings uncertainty to Santa Cruz County homeless and mental health service providers
Now that Prop 1 has officially passed — barely — mental health and homeless service providers look forward to learning more of the proposition’s impacts as state direction eventually comes down to the counties. Santa Cruz County providers see plenty of both pros and cons, and brace for the funding implications on a host of county-provided services.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Emergency shelters are key to long-term solutions for Santa Cruz’s unhoused
The unhoused crisis in Santa Cruz often feels insurmountable, but Larry Imwalle, the city’s homeless response manager, has some good news: We are making progress. Here, he outlines successes the city has had in the past 18 months and explains why shelters are the first step to long-term help.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Prop 1 explainer: Santa Cruz County faces ‘tough call’ on statewide mental health measure
California’s Proposition 1 is yet another thorny piece of legislation Santa Cruz County voters will face on the March 5 primary. Supporters think the measure focuses mental health money on housing those most vulnerable, while opponents worry about a cut to county-administered services and the construction of involuntary behavioral health treatment facilities. Even unhoused advocates and homelessness service providers say it’s tough to decide how to vote.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Looking for the next best ideas: What should be in Housing for Health’s updated homelessness response plan?
Tuesday marked a first step as those in and around homelessness response met to begin updating Santa Cruz County’s strategy. “There are lots of people here with strong ideas,” said one participant, “but the biggest barrier is getting those ideas into something workable.”
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz County’s point-in-time count remains an imperfect measure of homelessness
The annual point-in-time count took place Thursday morning, with about 130 volunteers, local officials and homelessness service workers hitting the streets before sunrise in an attempt to get the most accurate picture of homelessness in Santa Cruz County possible.
