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    Are you or someone you care about experiencing homelessness?
    Get started on the path to effective services today.

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    From having conversations with your neighbors to donating to volunteering,
    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

    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

    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…

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    17 hours ago

    The new Hygiene Bay at Housing Matters is open and ready for people 🛀🧼

    This morning, staff saw the portable Hygiene Bay wheeled away from the Coral Street campus, a sign of a positive and welcome change for participants.

    Our campus is home to a hygiene bay with restrooms and hot showers. Towels and basic toiletries can be provided. The showers are open daily from 7 am to 3 pm, and restrooms are open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

    Learn more about our day services, on our site > housingmatterssc.org/get-help/non-resident-services/

    #shower #housingmattersssc #housingmatters
    ... See MoreSee Less

    18 hours ago

    Join us following The March to End Homelessness on April 1st for our fun festival to celebrate our community's commitment to change!

    From 11:30-2pm, at the Santa Cruz County Building, our festival will be open to the public, and will offer food trucks, a Makers Market, live music and performances, interactive art projects and a resource fair featuring our service provider partners!

    Local artisans Velaspark Candles, Epoxie Doxie and Blissful Teas are just some of the amazing Makers that will be featured in our Makers Market! Each of these small businesses brings unique, handmade products for you to enjoy. Read on to learn what inspired these artists to join our cause!

    #endhomelessness #marchtoendhomelessness2023 #housingmatters #housingmattersssc
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Join us following The March to End Homelessness on April 1st for our fun festival to celebrate our communitys commitment to change! 

From 11:30-2pm, at the Santa Cruz County Building, our festival will be open to the public, and will offer food trucks, a Makers Market, live music and performances, interactive art projects and a resource fair featuring our service provider partners! 

Local artisans Velaspark Candles, Epoxie Doxie and Blissful Teas are just some of the amazing Makers that will be featured in our Makers Market! Each of these small businesses brings unique, handmade products for you to enjoy. Read on to learn what inspired these artists to join our cause! 

#endhomelessness #marchtoendhomelessness2023 #housingmatters #housingmatterssscImage attachmentImage attachment
    20 hours ago

    On April 1, a compassionate coalition of service providers, local businesses and community members will take to the streets of downtown Santa Cruz with the shared goal of ending homelessness. ❣️

    Coalition partner Homeless Garden Project provides job training, transitional employment and support services to individuals in Santa Cruz experiencing homelessness. Between 2014 and 2020, 97% of graduates obtained jobs or steady sources of income, and 90% of graduates got into housing.

    Since launching its first organic garden in 1990, the organization has worked diligently to create a stronger and more sustainable home for all Santa Cruzans 👨‍🌾

    Executive Director, Darrie Ganzhorn, told Housing Matters that their work and successes are possible largely because of their partner organizations, including Association of Faith Communities, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Abode Services, CalFresh Healthy Living, Homeless Persons Health Project, Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, and UC Santa Cruz Blum Center, to name a few.

    “Our holistic transitional employment program is one piece of the puzzle for our trainees’ move into jobs and housing... It really does take a village!”

    Looking to make an impact? March with us!
    Register here > www.eventbrite.com/e/march-to-end-homelessness-tickets-541979183327
    Volunteer here > www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4ca8ae28aaf4c34-themarch#/
    Donate here > pages.elevate.salesforce.org/housingmatterssc/donate-to-the-march-to-end-homelessness

    #endhomelessness #marchtoendhomelessness2023 #housingmatters #housingmatterssc
    ... See MoreSee Less

    On April 1, a compassionate coalition of service providers, local businesses and community members will take to the streets of downtown Santa Cruz with the shared goal of ending homelessness. ❣️

Coalition partner Homeless Garden Project provides job training, transitional employment and support services to individuals in Santa Cruz experiencing homelessness. Between 2014 and 2020, 97% of graduates obtained jobs or steady sources of income, and 90% of graduates got into housing.

Since launching its first organic garden in 1990, the organization has worked diligently to create a stronger and more sustainable home for all Santa Cruzans 👨‍🌾

Executive Director, Darrie Ganzhorn, told Housing Matters that their work and successes are possible largely because of their partner organizations, including Association of Faith Communities, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Abode Services, CalFresh Healthy Living, Homeless Persons Health Project, Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, and UC Santa Cruz Blum Center, to name a few.

“Our holistic transitional employment program is one piece of the puzzle for our trainees’ move into jobs and housing... It really does take a village!”

Looking to make an impact? March with us!
Register here > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-to-end-homelessness-tickets-541979183327
Volunteer here > https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4ca8ae28aaf4c34-themarch#/
Donate here > https://pages.elevate.salesforce.org/housingmatterssc/donate-to-the-march-to-end-homelessness

#endhomelessness #marchtoendhomelessness2023 #housingmatters #housingmatterssc