“We want to be thoughtful with dispersing,” one Santa Cruz official said after a federal judge cleared the way for the city to take action, citing improved COVID conditions. “We’re going to continue services the way it has been until we have a better place for people to go.”
homelessness
Posted inHousing & Development
State lawmakers secure $14.5 million for homelessness initiatives in Santa Cruz city, county
State Senator John Laird and Assemblymember Mark Stone helped land funding for the Santa Cruz area as part of California’s $262.6 billion budget.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz City Council axes sales tax increase, shares few changes on homelessness
One of the most contested items Tuesday night was a pending measure to increase the city’s sales tax from 9.25% to 9.75%. Councilmember Sandy Brown dissented, urging the council to find ways to help provide living wages for residents who are working jobs with substandard pay.
Posted inHousing & Development
‘What kind of county do we want to have?’: As Silicon Valley invades, Santa Cruz homelessness czar wonders
In six months on the job as director of Santa Cruz County’s new Housing for Health division, Dr. Robert Ratner has seen plenty of interest and passion in the community around housing but perhaps not enough ways to channel engagement and elevate positive solutions.
Posted inHousing & Development
Will June hearing be the end of injunction vs. city in Benchlands homeless lawsuit?
A federal judge could dissolve an injunction keeping the city of Santa Cruz from clearing a homeless encampment in the San Lorenzo Benchlands at a June 29 hearing set Thursday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
TOLO out, CSSO in: Santa Cruz City Council gives first OK to new homeless camping law
The new ordinance, which needs two approvals to become law, is more cut-and-dried than the TOLO, and more restrictive. If approved, the ordinance would ban outdoor sleeping everywhere in Santa Cruz except at sites specifically designated by the city for overnight camping.
Posted inHousing & Development
Is end to legal clash over the San Lorenzo Park homeless encampment in sight?
There have been signs of progress in the litigation between the homeless union and Santa Cruz officials in advance of a key hearing Thursday, but sticking points remain.
Posted inLatest News
Caltrans begins cleanup of Highway 1/9 homeless encampment as eviction notices take effect
Seventy-two hours after notices went up, police and clean-up crews began the final stages of clearing out the homeless encampment at Highways 1 and 9 in Santa Cruz. Most occupants left over the weekend, but with shelters full, it’s unclear where many of them went.
Posted inLatest News
Highway 1 and 9 homeless encampment begins clearing out to make way for construction project
It appeared that the hundreds of campers in coming days will need to find open spaces in city and county shelters or managed encampments in which to stay — or find some other place to sleep. Homeless advocates had begun going to the intersection Friday to try to begin finding places for the displaced campers to relocate.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Emergency sheltering for homeless could get a much-needed extension thanks to new federal funding
To date Santa Cruz County has funding secured through September for a 275-unit emergency shelter program that reserves hotel and motel rooms for people experiencing homelessness. Additional federal funding that could soon come the county’s way should help officials keep about 100 units operational for another three months.