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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

    2022 Homeless Point-in-Time Count

    Santa Cruz County’s Housing for Health Partnership releases its full report, and shares plans to conduct the count on a more frequent basis.   The
    180 Together Celebrates A Decade of Collaboration

    At least 1,150 people housed through historic housing program since launch in 2012     It started as a Countywide initiative to house 180 people
    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 —
    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
    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
    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. This Strategic Plan is a living…
    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 that will house and treat…
    $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. While

    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…
    More Success Stories

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    Housing Matters
    2 weeks ago
    Housing Matters

    What is your new year's resolution? 🤔💭 Our new year's resolution is the same every year: ensure that homelessness in Santa Cruz County should be rare, brief and non-recurring. With your support, we can help resolve homelessness together: housingmatterssc.org/donate/ ... See MoreSee Less

    What is your new years resolution? 🤔💭 Our new years resolution is the same every year: ensure that homelessness in Santa Cruz County should be rare, brief and non-recurring. With your support, we can help resolve homelessness together: https://housingmatterssc.org/donate/
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    How about making a New Year’s resolution to provide SAFE places where rules are followed to those trying to get houses and off of the streets? My sister is disabled (in a wheel chair) and lives at the Armory “safe” RV parking by the golf course. She is stolen from on a regular basis, has her gas siphoned from her generator, her power unplugged, has been threatened with physical violence and last night was physically assaulted by one of the other tenants. The same tenant that accosted me in the parking lot when I went to visit her last week. Staff is aware and not taking matters seriously or enforcing rules. It’s dangerous and scary and unacceptable! Homelessness will not be brief for any of these people if they are not shown how to get clean and sober and how to live in society without stealing and beating each other up! Offering a place for those to stay where there is a requirement of trying to become a productive human will endure a shorter, non-recurring instance of homelessness. Because we all can see that Santa Cruz has much more of a substance abuse and mental health crisis than we do an actual homeless crisis. Aided by our county’s enabling behaviors. This will never end until the addiction and mental health crisis are dealt with.

    Housing Matters
    2 weeks ago
    Housing Matters

    🌟You're invited🌟to join us on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m. for our Neighbor for Neighbor meetup at the Capitola Branch Library.

    During this meetup, our Director of Campus and Housing, Evyn Robles, will discuss emergency shelter in Santa Cruz County.

    Be a part of the conversation and register for this meetup today:

    santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10013296     ... See MoreSee Less

    🌟Youre invited🌟to join us on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m. for our Neighbor for Neighbor meetup at the Capitola Branch Library. During this meetup, our Director of Campus and Housing, Evyn Robles, will discuss emergency shelter in Santa Cruz County. Be a part of the conversation and register for this meetup today: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10013296
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    Housing Matters
    3 weeks ago
    Housing Matters

    We continue to foster compassionate action in Santa Cruz County neighborhoods by hosting Neighbors for Neighbors meetings at the Garfield Park Library, Thursday, Jan. 19, 4:30 p.m. 🫂💖 The guest speaker for this session is Elaine Johnson from Housing Santa Cruz County topic to talk about affordable housing projects.

    This monthly in-person meetup is for people who want to learn how to take an active role in their neighborhood to bridge divides on the topic of homelessness! We hope to see you there! 👋

    Register today: bit.ly/3itG7DU     ... See MoreSee Less

    We continue to foster compassionate action in Santa Cruz County neighborhoods by hosting Neighbors for Neighbors meetings at the Garfield Park Library, Thursday, Jan. 19, 4:30 p.m. 🫂💖 The guest speaker for this session is Elaine Johnson from Housing Santa Cruz County topic to talk about affordable housing projects. This monthly in-person meetup is for people who want to learn how to take an active role in their neighborhood to bridge divides on the topic of homelessness! We hope to see you there! 👋 Register today: bit.ly/3itG7DU
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