The Housing First model combats homelessness by getting people into housing first and providing basic necessities, setting them up for greater success in working on their own issues. Santa Cruz County housing professionals and homeless service providers say that while there is a will and interest to implement the model locally, there are big obstacles including funding and, most notably, housing.
homelessness
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville City Council to hear ‘tiny village’ appeal next month
On March 11, the Watsonville City Council is scheduled to hear the second appeal against the “tiny village” project filed by resident Catalina Torres in December. The project will provide shelter for homeless individuals living along the Pajaro River levee. Torres and other residents argue the shelter’s location — on the Westview Presbyterian Church property — will lead to more “homeless-related crimes” in the neighborhood.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom vows to pull funding from cities, counties that fail to decrease homelessness and encampments
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that he was making additional money available for California counties and cities to address homelessness, with a caveat: You must be successful in solving the problem.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘You see me’: Screening of ‘Beyond the Bridge’ takes a look at success combatting homelessness
A Housing Matters-hosted screening of the documentary film “Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness” brought more than 100 people to the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz to watch the film and hear a panel discussion with the filmmakers, local officials and those who have experienced homelessness firsthand about ways to implement local solutions. Meanwhile, a small group of homeless advocates protested with signs outside the theater, expressing their disapproval of the city’s handling of homelessness.
Posted inLatest News
After Santa Cruz encampment sweep that resulted in arrests, homeless advocacy groups decry ‘cruelty and shame’
A homeless encampment sweep along Coral Street in Santa Cruz last week was pre-planned, said a city spokesperson, and resulted in several arrests. Two homeless advocacy and mutual aid groups expressed their disapproval of the practice of sweeps and called on the city and county to invest in supportive measures rather than on resources for sweeps.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Annual point-in-time count sees Pajaro River levee homeless encampments shift from Watsonville to Monterey County
Santa Cruz County’s annual homelessness count revealed a dramatic shift, with one group of volunteers spotting only three people along a stretch of the Pajaro River levee in Watsonville after most residents moved to the Monterey County side following a July sweep.
Posted inLatest News
Cold front and intense winds to sweep through Santa Cruz County
Strong winds and low overnight temperatures are expected across Santa Cruz County on Saturday through Tuesday. The cold front could affect sensitive residents and be hazardous for people who are unhoused.
Posted inLatest News
Emergency shelters extended as cold front reaches Santa Cruz County
With a cold front set to hit Santa Cruz county two overnight emergency shelters will open to protect the unhoused from the low temperatures.
Posted inLatest News
In Photos: At Santa Cruz homeless memorial, empty chairs mark lives lost on the streets this year
Santa Cruz homelessness advocates, officials and residents gathered Friday to memorialize members of the unhoused community who died over the past year.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville resident files new appeal over ‘tiny village’ to city council
Watsonville resident Catalina Torres filed a new appeal asking the city council to rescind zoning approval of a 34-unit “tiny village” project that would provide shelter for the unhoused on land at Westview Presbyterian Church.