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.
As a volunteer at the Homeless Services Center, I have grown and learned so much from working alongside a team of dedicated staff. You will never find a more genuine and whole-hearted environment to be in. The people are very friendly and you never feel alone. There are a number of volunteer duties to take […]
The good news for Suzanne, a 61-year-old mother who had recently been discharged from the hospital, was that she was on almost a dozen waitlists for senior and affordable housing in the county. The bad news was some waitlists were years long, and Suzanne was unsure what she would do. Suzanne had been forced to […]
From the Santa Cruz Sentinel: The number of people who have died while homeless in Santa Cruz County jumped significantly this year, and advocates and community members gathered Tuesday at Homeless Services Center to remember the dead. Read the full story >
An Op-Ed submitted to the Santa Cruz Sentinel by Homeless Services Center Executive Director Phil Kramer. “Anyone who doubts shelter is a pathway to housing should meet Gary. He had been out of work for nine years due to an auto-immune illness…” Read the full op-ed >
Research conducted with 104,206 individuals in Santa Clara County between 2007 and 2012. It includes demographic and medical attributes, justice system history, health and human services provided, and the cost of services. This data shows the realities of the true cost to public and safety net systems of homelessness in Silicon Valley. Visit the Destination: […]
View our FY2017 Annual Report, including a message from Executive Director Phil Kramer and Board President Claudia Brown, success stories, and statistics about community impact. View the Annual Report >
A young man was a daily user of the showers for the truly homeless. Despite all his trials and tribulations, he was able to earn enough college credits at Cabrillo to be admitted to UCSC as a junior in the math department. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been. He stated that what […]
This 2017 report from the City of Santa Cruz outlines 20 recommendations, offered both as short-term action items and longer-term strategies. Read the full report >
I have experienced a strong sense of community and support from everyone I have encountered here. One thing I have specifically enjoyed witnessing is the obvious progress and improvement that clients and whole families undergo at our shelter, as case managers and other resources are provided and permanent housing is obtained by formerly homeless families. […]