National Media
The Guardian conducted a year-long reporting series on the issue of homelessness in America. Read the stories on their website >
get informed
The first step to finding community solutions for homelessness is education. Learn about homelessness in Santa Cruz County, read success stories of clients we’ve served, and dive into some national resources on understanding homelessness. As is often the case, there’s more than meets the eye.
Data, Understanding Homelessness
No Place Like Home is a research project based at UC Santa Cruz that looks at the meaning of “home” in the midst of a housing crisis. View the research and learn more about the project >
Individuals
If you ask Ray what the future looks like, he will tell you in one word: stable. Ray, a thirty-year-old cosmetologist with a Southern drawl, and his partner, David, found housing and a pathway forward after more than two years of facing discrimination, assault and battling substance use while experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz. Ray […]
Understanding Homelessness
A tribute to thank Rowland “Reb” Rebele. For over 30 years Rowland Rebele has spearheaded services for people experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County. In 2015, he appeared on the program Reality Church to discuss his work.
Individuals
When Marcus, a veteran who works in the IT field, told his fiancé Aria she needed to fill out yet another set of papers before getting the keys to their new condominium, Aria’s heart sank. For the past few months, Marcus, Aria, and their three teenaged children were living in emergency hotel assistance due to […]
National Media
From the Washington Post: After nearly two years of homelessness, I could no longer bear sleeping, let alone bathing, in the shelter where I had spent too many nights. Read the full essay >
Strategies and Solutions, Understanding Homelessness
The National Healthcare for the Homeless Council is well known for leading the call for comprehensive health care and secure housing for all. Their slogan is “Housing is Health Care”. View their website >
Individuals
For the past nine years, Gary, a father and a resident of Santa Cruz, did not know what was wrong with him. By the time he was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness and began his long road to being himself again, Gary had lost a lot of time. Once healthy, he struggled to find work, […]
Strategies and Solutions, Understanding Homelessness
Smart Solutions to Homelessness is a Santa Cruz County-based organization with a stated mission to “build the community will to reduce and ultimately end homelessness in Santa Cruz County through community education and collaborative action.” View the Smart Solutions to Homelessness website >
Individuals
For Bill, life was stable. As a truck driver for more than 30 years, Bill was married and had a house of his own in Santa Cruz. But once his divorce was finalized, the stability he was accustomed to vanished. In a short time, Bill lost everything and had nobody to turn to for help. […]