City officials announced the plans during a Santa Cruz City Council meeting on Tuesday, and said they had already begun relocating dozens of San Lorenzo Park campers to the Benchlands. The move is the result of a compromise the city struck with the local homeless union after months of legal back-and-forth over a federal lawsuit focused on the threat of COVID-19 to unsheltered people staying in the park.
homelessness
Posted inHousing & Development
A tiny-home village for homeless veterans? It’s part of non-profit’s bigger picture — but the clock ticks
The Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building Board of Trustees is on an ambitious quest: Create housing for all Santa Cruz County homeless veterans — and do so before the clock runs out on pandemic-related funding that’s helped shelter vets amid COVID. Part of the solution? Tiny homes.
Posted inLatest News
Teen arrested in Texas for January murder of apparently homeless man in Santa Cruz, police say
The victim, 37-year-old Daniel Hartley, was found dead in the early hours of Jan. 17 near the 700 block of Emeline Avenue.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Absolutely have to do better’: In homeless camping law rewrite, Santa Cruz leaders vow to hear out residents
UPDATE: The “temporary outdoor living ordinance,” known as TOLO, was suspended by the Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday night amid outcries from all corners of the city. Most councilmembers struck an apologetic tone, expressing regret over the lack of effort put into gathering community input about the ordinance before it was passed.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz ordinance restricting where homeless people can camp likely ‘dead’ after widespread opposition
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Top Santa Cruz officials try to allay Seabright’s fears about homeless as camping ordinance revisions emerge
The big takeaway: Mayor Donna Meyers told frustrated Seabright residents that she would bring forth a proposal to place all commercial zones in the city, including in their neighborhood, off-limits for overnight camping. But a more nuanced discussion about homelessness took place as well.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
COVID-spawned budget woes will force shutdown of River Street homeless shelter next month
The River Street facility, located on the campus of Housing Matters, is set to close May 1, with its occupants to be moved into permanent housing or to other shelters. Still, the move is raising concerns.
Posted inHousing & Development
After intense backlash, Santa Cruz mayor to propose striking Seabright from areas where homeless can sleep
After much community backlash, Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers said she will bring forth a proposal to remove the industrial zone of the Seabright neighborhood from places where overnight camping is allowed on public property.
Posted inHousing & Development
San Lorenzo Park homeless camp to move to the Benchlands as a compromise in federal lawsuit
Per the compromise, the city will establish 122 campsites — adequately spaced out — in the Benchlands, which is a floodplain along the San Lorenzo River.
Posted inVaccine Watch
PHOTOS: Santa Cruz County begins vaccinating its homeless residents
After the California Department of Public Health expanded the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 vaccine to include people experiencing homelessness, Santa Cruz County began inoculations with a clinic at Housing Matters on Tuesday. Lookout photo contributor Kevin Painchaud captured the scene.