Learn more about:

Click here for a local resources guide for persons experiencing homelessness:

Local Data on Homelessness ​

Every two years, communities across the country conduct counts of their homeless population in order to gain a better understanding of the current homelessness in their community, and to apply for federal funding for homeless programs. Santa Cruz County has worked in conjunction with Applied Survey Research (ASR) to conduct the Santa Cruz County Homeless Census and Survey for adults, families and unaccompanied children every two years, since 2001.

2017 Santa Cruz County Homeless Census and Survey

executivesummary_2017.pdf
File Size: 169 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2015 census and survey
2013 census and survey

Local Organizations Working to Address Homelessness


(This is intended to be an inclusive list of organizations whose primary work is addressing some aspect of homelessness in Santa Cruz County. The listing of an organization does not imply endorsement of the work of that organization. Please contact us if you know of an organization to include; sshomelessness.org@gmail.com)

​Smart Solutions to Homelessness (that’s us!) 
180 / 2020  https://www.180santacruz.org/
Association of Faith Communities  http://www.afcsantacruz.org/
Families in Transition  https://www.fitsantacruz.org/
Homeless Action Partnership http://www.sccoplanning.com/PlanningHome/Housing/MHSAHousingProgram/HAP.aspx
Homeless Garden Project  http://www.homelessgardenproject.org/
Homeless Services Center  http://www.scshelter.org/
Homeless Persons Health Project  http://www.santacruzhealth.org/phealth/2homeless.htm
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes http://www.pvloavesandfishes.org/
Pajaro Valley Rescue Mission  https://teenchallengemb.org/our-centers/pajaro-rescue-mission/
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services  http://www.pvshelter.org/
Project Homeless Connect Santa Cruz http://www.phc-santacruz.org/
Rental Assistance Program at Community Action Board https://cabinc.org/2017/04/21/rap/
River Street Shelter http://www.encompasscs.org/community-support-services/river-street-emergency-shelter
Saint Francis Catholic Kitchen  http://www.stfrancissoupkitchen.org/kitchen.html
Salvation Army https://santacruz.salvationarmy.org/santa_cruz_corps/provide-shelter/
Siena House  http://www.sienahouse.org/program.shtml
Smart Path to Housing and Health  https://smartpathscc.org/
Veterans Resource Center  http://vetsresource.org/vrc-santa-cruz.html
The Warming Center Programs  https://www.warmingcenterprogram.com/
Downtown Streets Team http://streetsteam.org/santacruz
​
For a complete guide of Santa Cruz County organizations providing other key services for individuals experiencing homelessness please visit the Project Homeless Connect Resource Guide page  or dial 211 from any phone.

State Organizations Working on Homelessness and Low-Income Housing Issues

Housing California http://www.housingca.org/
Western Regional Advocacy Project  http://wraphome.org/
California Homeless Financing and Coordinating Council https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/hcfc/

National Organizations Working on Homelessness Issues

National Alliance to End Homelessness  http://www.naeh.org/
National Coaltion for the Homeless  http://www.nationalhomeless.org/
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty  http://www.nlchp.org/
US Interagency Council on Homelessness  https://www.usich.gov/

More National Data and Resources

National Data: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2017-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

​Basics on homelessness in the United States from the National Alliance to End Homelessness:  http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/about_homelessness

Basics on homelessness in the United States from the National Coalition for the Homeless:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/index.html

Understanding sub-populations experiencing homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/issues

National policy on homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/policy
https://www.usich.gov/

Solutions to address homelessness from across the U.S.:
http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/solutions
https://www.usich.gov/solutions/

​