18
UNITS OF SHELTER FOR
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
675
FAMILIES SERVED
SINCE 2005
2005
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED &
FIRST FAMILIES MOVED IN
Rebele Family Shelter
Celebrating 20 years of impact
About Rebele Family Shelter
The Rebele Family Shelter (RFS) is Santa Cruz County’s largest shelter dedicated to families with children experiencing homelessness.
Operated by Housing Matters, RFS provides apartment-style units with private bathrooms and showers, ensuring dignity and comfort during a difficult chapter in a family’s life. At any given time, up to 58 people call RFS home.
Families staying at RFS receive three meals a day, access to common areas and a community play area designed for children.
While they are with us, families work one-on-one with case managers to chart a path toward stable housing and long-term stability.
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Rendering before construction began
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Senator John Laird and Ken Cole, former Executive Director of Homeless Services Center (Housing Matter) at the Groundbreaking Ceremony
Ken Cole, former Executive Director of Homeless Services Center (Housing Matter) Photo Credit: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Community Room
Entrance and lobby
Outdoor communal area
Aerial view showing newly installed solar panel array
Housing-Focused, Family-Centered Support
Every family at RFS is paired with a dedicated case manager who coordinates access to critical services and housing navigation. Some supports offered include:
- Employment and job readiness support
- Healthcare and behavioral health services referrals
- Substance use disorder and domestic violence resources
- Access to childcare
- Help enrolling in benefits programs like CalWORKS
This wraparound approach helps families address the root causes of housing insecurity while building toward a future of self-sufficiency and stable housing.
A Low-Barrier Model with a High Impact
RFS is one of the only low-barrier family shelters in the region. That means families can access shelter without needing to meet restrictive requirements—removing a key obstacle for many in urgent need of help.
The average length of stay at RFS is about six months, during which time families are supported in overcoming the barriers standing between them and permanent housing.
A Legacy of Compassion: The Rebele Family
The Rebele Family Shelter opened in May 2005, thanks to the vision, generosity, and leadership of Rowland “Reb” and Pat Rebele.
Moved by the urgent need for family shelter in Santa Cruz County, the Rebele’s not only contributed personally, they spearheaded a vigorous capital campaign that made the construction of this three-story, 18-unit building possible.
Reb Rebele’s impact on Housing Matters and the families we serve cannot be overstated. As a founding member, a board leader, and a dedicated advocate, Reb helped shape a more compassionate community—one where families facing homelessness are met with dignity, hope, and real pathways forward. His legacy lives on in every family that finds stability through the shelter that bears his name.
When Reb joined in the work, we were not a large organization and had just a small handful of programs. Reb didn’t just contribute generously himself, he recruited countless others to make contributions. These contributions fueled our growth and higher rates of success with our participants.”
Don Lane, President of the Housing Matters Board of Directors