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    latest news

    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
    23 hours ago
    Housing Matters

    Myth: People experiencing homelessness just need to get a job 😕

    Fact: Many people who are experiencing homelessness do have jobs, sometimes two or more. The National Coalition for Homelessness estimates as many as 40%-60% of unhoused individuals nationwide are employed.

    The Housing Affordability Gap — the drastic difference in price between income and housing leads to housing instability in our community. Individuals and families unable to pay rent despite multiple sources of income are at a higher risk of homelessness. 🚫💲     ... See MoreSee Less

    Myth: People experiencing homelessness just need to get a job 😕 Fact: Many people who are experiencing homelessness do have jobs, sometimes two or more. The National Coalition for Homelessness estimates as many as 40%-60% of unhoused individuals nationwide are employed. The Housing Affordability Gap — the drastic difference in price between income and housing leads to housing instability in our community. Individuals and families unable to pay rent despite multiple sources of income are at a higher risk of homelessness. 🚫💲
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    Housing Matters
    2 days ago
    Housing Matters

    Drop by the Starbucks at 41st and Soquel during the month of September with a grocery gift card or cash donation to receive a discount on your cup of joe AND a chance to win some awesome prizes. Any amount counts!

    In honor of Hunger Action Month, we’ve partnered with Starbucks at 41st and Soquel Avenue to raise awareness and share solutions to homelessness and hunger in our community.     ... See MoreSee Less

    Drop by the Starbucks at 41st and Soquel during the month of September with a grocery gift card or cash donation to receive a discount on your cup of joe AND a chance to win some awesome prizes. Any amount counts! In honor of Hunger Action Month, we’ve partnered with Starbucks at 41st and Soquel Avenue to raise awareness and share solutions to homelessness and hunger in our community.
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    Housing Matters
    3 days ago
    Housing Matters

    Chloe Bradburn is the newest Service Navigation Coordinator at Housing Matters. We sat down with her to learn why ongoing systems of support are so imperative to the work she does.

    "I love the idea of putting as many people in permanent housing as possible, and the truth is we need sustainable community measures in order to maintain that housing.

    I mean, I can only imagine the experience of living outside for 30+ years and then being housed and having your survival mode end. How do you learn not to live in survival mode? I think tenancy workshops are awesome to help folks understand what it takes to get into housing and how to work with landlords.

    A lot of folks who get housed still have their community in people experiencing homelessness. And that causes a lot of strife for landlords. It isn't fair, because a community is a community.

    I think something that would help is a better understanding of the need for affordable housing in general. Because the community might be hearing the need for this, but there's a disconnect between people experiencing homelessness and people who are housed."

    Subscribe for our monthly newsletter for more perspectives like Chloe's: bit.ly/3SuFk1G     ... See MoreSee Less

    Chloe Bradburn is the newest Service Navigation Coordinator at Housing Matters. We sat down with her to learn why ongoing systems of support are so imperative to the work she does. I love the idea of putting as many people in permanent housing as possible, and the truth is we need sustainable community measures in order to maintain that housing. I mean, I can only imagine the experience of living outside for 30+ years and then being housed and having your survival mode end. How do you learn not to live in survival mode? I think tenancy workshops are awesome to help folks understand what it takes to get into housing and how to work with landlords. A lot of folks who get housed still have their community in people experiencing homelessness. And that causes a lot of strife for landlords. It isnt fair, because a community is a community. I think something that would help is a better understanding of the need for affordable housing in general. Because the community might be hearing the need for this, but theres a disconnect between people experiencing homelessness and people who are housed. Subscribe for our monthly newsletter for more perspectives like Chloes: https://bit.ly/3SuFk1G
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