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    there are many ways to help resolve homelessness together.

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    Interested in learning about what we’re up to, and about the complex issue that is homelessness? Check out our resources, links, and events.

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    latest news

    Homelessness and addiction: Surviving the opioid crisis

    Fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine. These synthetic painkillers, known as opioids, gained notoriety as extremely potent and highly addictive prescription drugs. Now, illicit

    Resolving homelessness: The need for both temporary shelter and affordable housing in Santa Cruz

    There’s no question that more affordable housing is needed to resolve homelessness in Santa Cruz County. But a greater supply of emergency shelter — safe places where people experiencing homelessness can stay temporarily — is also needed.

    Healing Chronic Homelessness

    To live unhoused for any period of time can be harsh and disorienting. But to live without a home, for years on end, is a trauma that is difficult to overcome.

    2022 Homeless Point-in-Time Count

    While an executive summary provided a preview of the data last August, the full report which includes voluntary survey data compiled as part of the federally-mandated census paints a more complete picture of the people experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County. 

    180 Together Celebrates A Decade of Collaboration

    At least 1,150 people housed through historic housing program since launch in 2012.

    Data shows fewer vets experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County

    By-Name List of veterans reveals just 52 unhoused vets in 2022 compared to 332 in the latest PIT count.

    Housing as healthcare: A prescription for change

    A future in which doctors prescribe housing as a treatment for chronic homelessness may be difficult for some to imagine. But as more communities — and healthcare providers — embrace a multifaceted approach to addressing homelessness, that scenario may not seem so far-fetched.

    Dignity Health Awards $1M to Housing Matters to Build Permanent Supportive Housing

    Dignity Health and Housing Matters recently announced that Dignity Health is awarding a $1M Homeless Health Initiative grant to Housing Matters to build Harvey West Studios, 120 units of affordable housing for those with a history of chronic homelessness.

    Thanks to you, we raised $9.3M to build Harvey West Studios

    We did it! Thanks to our donors’ generous support, we raised $9.3 Million through our Building with Purpose campaign to build permanent supportive housing right

    Jennifer’s story of resilience and hope

    Jennifer came to the Rebele Family Shelter (RFS) after many years of experiencing homelessness. As a mother of three, Jennifer was seeking stability for both herself and her children and RFS became just that.

    Introducing the Pathways Home Toolkit – A free community resource

    Introducing the Pathways Home Toolkit—a free resource anyone can use to help someone experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County and beyond.

    Announcing Our Newest Program: Housing Now

    Housing Matters is hiring a specialized team of case managers to house 90 people experiencing homelessness over the next 15 months.

    Housing Matters Launches Building with Purpose Campaign

    Housing Matters has announced the Building with Purpose capital campaign and their plan to build 120 units of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness in Santa Cruz County.

    Housing Matters’ 2021–2023 Strategic Plan

    After many, many months of intensive, deliberate thought and planning, in March 2021 we finalized our newest three-year Strategic Plan.

    NEWS: Permanent Supportive Housing Project Approved!

    SANTA CRUZ, CA (Nov. 20, 2020) — Santa Cruz city planning commissioners on Thursday night approved a 120-apartment, five-story complex on the Housing Matters campus.

    $2.5 Million Awarded to Housing Matters

    Housing Matters, the largest nonprofit in Santa Cruz County working on solutions to homelessness, today announced that it has been selected to receive a $2.5 million grant.

    Well, this is awkward… about those encampments

    Housing Matters is the largest nonprofit in Santa Cruz County working exclusively on the issue of homelessness. We connect unhoused community members with housing.

    home at last: success stories

    Our clients are some of the most inspiring people we know. Learn about their journeys as they found their pathways to stable housing.

    Nina

    Nina

    When Nina first came to Housing Matters, she thought she had no hope at all. Nina and her 17-year-old daughter were in a difficult situation, living with a boyfriend of Nina who was abusive, to avoid sleeping in their car or on the street with no protection.

    Sherry

    Sherry

    When I first became homeless, I was married to my husband, Darel. He and I did everything together. He had my back when I first lost my housing in the late ’90s and really looked out for me while we were together. We supported each other in every way we could. He struggled with seizures and other health complications, which is hard to handle alone, so I was there for him throughout…

    Mario

    Mario

    Mario’s hope is to find a way to help the agencies that saved his life expand, so more people can access their services. That, and get back to fishing. A third-generation Santa Cruzian, Mario says his favorite things about his hometown are the ocean and the mountains, but mostly the good people…

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    1 day ago

    Our Community Conversations Speakers Bureau is still recruiting new participants!

    Housing Matters’ Speakers Bureau is a platform for currently and formerly unhoused individuals to share their expertise of the homelessness crisis with the wider community. Members of the Bureau will have access to a free, in-person training led by Andrea Feltz, Community Conversations Program Manager.

    This training includes coaching in three specific areas:
    -Public speaking
    -Narrative development: What is your message? What do you want to say?
    -Storytelling

    Upon completion of the training, speakers will receive $50 compensation, a certificate of completion, and continued support. You will then be eligible for paid opportunities to speak at a variety of community events.

    Applications are now open for the October cohort of the Speakers Bureau. To apply, please visit > docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepDM4jjZOgT4i8pcOMUmaQ13-sTxD1BNaQSuvwhC_qb11n1g/viewform
    Have questions or inquiries? Please contact Andrea Feltz, Community Conversations Program Manager at afeltz@housingmatterssc.org.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Our Community Conversations Speakers Bureau is still recruiting new participants! 

Housing Matters’ Speakers Bureau is a platform for currently and formerly unhoused individuals to share their expertise of the homelessness crisis with the wider community. Members of the Bureau will have access to a free, in-person training led by Andrea Feltz, Community Conversations Program Manager.

This training includes coaching in three specific areas:
-Public speaking
-Narrative development: What is your message? What do you want to say?
-Storytelling 

Upon completion of the training, speakers will receive $50 compensation, a certificate of completion, and continued support. You will then be eligible for paid opportunities to speak at a variety of community events.

Applications are now open for the October cohort of the Speakers Bureau. To apply, please visit > https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepDM4jjZOgT4i8pcOMUmaQ13-sTxD1BNaQSuvwhC_qb11n1g/viewform
Have questions or inquiries? Please contact Andrea Feltz, Community Conversations Program Manager at afeltz@housingmatterssc.org.Image attachment
    3 days ago

    In August’s Neighbors for Neighbors library meetup, Dr. Robert Ratner, Director of the Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Partnership, referenced this quote from the American Journal of Public Health Editorial.
    Dr. Elliot D. Sclar writes, “The social construction of homelessness is the creation of a situation in which, as a matter of policy, too many poor people are asked to chase too few low-cost housing units” (American Journal of Public Health Editorial, “Homelessness and Housing Policy: A Game of Musical Chairs” September 1990)

    Dr. Ratner explained that homelessness as we know it today is a social construction, meaning it is an issue that we created. Meaningfully, if we created this crisis, we can also solve it.

    Dr. Ratner pointed out that the homelessness issue today is more severe than anything we have seen in the United States since the Great Depression. The modern crisis of homelessness in the United States emerged over time due to deliberate policy choices that fueled neglect of our low income and working class populations. Our society has allowed the government to disinvest in housing, creating a dynamic with policies that do not match the cost of housing.

    We can effectively tackle and ultimately resolve homelessness through strategic investments in key areas like healthcare and housing affordability. While we may be faced with a complex challenge, it is one that we have the power to address and remedy through calculated policy shifts.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    In August’s Neighbors for Neighbors library meetup, Dr. Robert Ratner, Director of the Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Partnership, referenced this quote from the American Journal of Public Health Editorial. 
Dr. Elliot D. Sclar writes, “The social construction of homelessness is the creation of a situation in which, as a matter of policy, too many poor people are asked to chase too few low-cost housing units” (American Journal of Public Health Editorial, “Homelessness and Housing Policy: A Game of Musical Chairs” September 1990) 

Dr. Ratner explained that homelessness as we know it today is a social construction, meaning it is an issue that we created. Meaningfully, if we created this crisis, we can also solve it. 

Dr. Ratner pointed out that the homelessness issue today is more severe than anything we have seen in the United States since the Great Depression. The modern crisis of homelessness in the United States emerged over time due to deliberate policy choices that fueled neglect of our low income and working class populations. Our society has allowed the government to disinvest in housing, creating a dynamic with policies that do not match the cost of housing. 

We can effectively tackle and ultimately resolve homelessness through strategic investments in key areas like healthcare and housing affordability. While we may be faced with a complex challenge, it is one that we have the power to address and remedy through calculated policy shifts.