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What is the City doing about fire safety in encampments and open space?

What is the City doing to mitigate fire risk in our open spaces?

The City is committed to public safety and will continue to closely monitor wildfire risk. We are working to reduce the risk of wildfires, but there is no way to eliminate the risk completely.

Fire professionals are constantly monitoring current and predicted fire weather, fuel moisture levels, and local fire activity for potential closure of the City’s open spaces.

We are conducting our assessment and outreach to encampments affecting the City’s open space areas in preparation for wildfire fire season. This assessment areas include Moore Creek, Sycamore Grove, Pogonip, Arana Gulch, Arroyo Seco, and DeLaveaga Wilderness. City-owned open spaces are already closed for off-trail use to reduce the potential for fire.

The City will continue its wildfire outreach and education efforts, and we will continue to warn, advise, and educate especially near high-risk areas. In addition, City staff will be on the lookout for ignition sources at encampments and advise encampment residents of the fire risk in these areas due to weather conditions, season, and climate change.

The ongoing Benchlands closure and restoration project may shift the visibility of homelessness in Santa Cruz. The appearance of unhoused residents in new locations will present new challenges in our community.

The City and its partners will continue their efforts to reduce the potential of the establishment of large encampments of unhoused residents. However, more shelter capacity, more affordable housing, and more support services are needed in order to achieve that goal throughout our community.

Santa Cruz residents encountering hazardous conditions or fire risks can report them via the City’s community request service portal at cityofsantacruz.com/report

What is Homelessness Outreach?

City Outreach in the Field Homelessness Response Outreach Team

Every day, the City’s dedicated outreach workers bring compassion and kindness to their interactions with clients. The outreach team engages in street-level outreach with unhoused individuals, meeting them in encampments or where ever they may be staying. When meeting a new client, they offer help and support, transport people to shelter locations, provide access to services and making life-saving connections with people. This team is credited with supporting at least 250 people onto a pathway to more stable housing in 2022.

Our Homelessness Outreach team members also manage the River Street Transitional Community Camp, where they work closely with residents to create a safe and supportive environment where people can get access to services, meet with case workers, and make progress towards personal goals such as finding stable housing, job searches, and taking care of their health.

1220 River is currently accepting new community members and interviews are ongoing. Please contact City outreach staff for more information at (831)-359-5996.

Making an Impact:

Taylor and Chris* arrived at 1220 River Street Transitional Community Camp in Summer 2022.

Prior to 1220, Taylor and Chris were living in their car and trying to manage significant health challenges. They were focused on survival and safety with little support from anyone else. During their time at 1220 River, they worked with our outreach staff and focused on their housing search, physical and mental health, and on maintaining full-time employment.

"1220 gave us a place to catch out breath. There was too much going on and we needed help. [City staff] helped us with so many things like getting my drivers licenses, doctor's appointments, and housing applications. We didn't know where to start. They were there every step of the way with us. Chris' health is improving and I have been able to focus on working." -Taylor

Taylor and Chris recently found permanent housing with assistance from our City outreach staff and County support programs.

*Names have been changed for privacy

Where can I find data about the homeless population in Santa Cruz?

What data do we have about the unhoused population in Santa Cruz County?

2023 Santa Cruz County Homeless Point-In-Time Count & Survey

POINT-IN-TIME COUNT SHOWS POSITIVE TRENDS

Executive Summary

Full Report

Disparities emerge; housing costs continuing obstacle in resolving homelessness The Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Partnership is pleased to announce the results of the 2023 Point-in-Time Census (PIT Count), showing a 21.5 percent decline in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the County. The City of Santa Cruz shows a 29 percent decline in the number of people experiencing homelessness.

“While the numbers show the lowest levels of homelessness since the PIT Count was first conducted and reflects our efforts to prioritize housing, we still have a long way to go,” said Robert Ratner, director of the Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Division. “Addressing homelessness in Santa Cruz County requires long-term, systemic change, but we are heading in the right direction.” The federally designated PIT Count provides a snapshot of homelessness in communities throughout the U.S. The Santa Cruz County count was conducted under challenging winter conditions, and officials cautioned that despite improvements, 1 in every 146 Santa Cruz County residents still do not have access to housing.

Conducted on February 23, 2023, the PIT Count shows 79 percent of people experiencing homelessness at that time were unsheltered. Of those, nearly half slept in vehicles. Sixty-five percent of families experiencing homelessness had shelter, but nearly all unaccompanied minors and transition-age youth (adults less than 24 years old) were living on the streets.

Local homelessness disproportionately impacts persons of color, with 44 percent of those surveyed identifying as Hispanic or Latino, while homelessness among other races was also higher than the general population. More than two-thirds of people experiencing homelessness were male.

Three in ten had some form of employment. Of the unemployed, more than half are looking for work. Nearly a quarter have been in the foster care system. All local cities saw declines in the number of people experiencing homelessness except Watsonville, which saw a 15 percent increase. Unfortunately, the number of homeless families with children increased, as did the numbers of K-12 students experiencing homelessness.

Seventy-five percent were County residents when they became homeless. Nearly half reported substance abuse issues, while more than one-third reported psychiatric/emotional conditions or post-traumatic stress disorder. One-third have a physical disability.

The Housing for Health Partnership is committed to moving as many formerly homeless individuals into housing as possible. Following the closure of the COVID-19 sheltering system – the largest and longest sheltering operation in County history – the County and partners, including the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County, have moved more than 600 individuals into permanent supportive housing.

Furthermore, the County is working with community partners to secure Project Homekey and other grants to increase the community’s capacity to provide housing and other residential options for formerly homeless individuals and families. Those grants include a recent $10.1 million Behavioral Health Bridge Housing award to build a 34-unit housing development to serve homeless adults with behavioral health challenges, as well as a partnership with the County of Monterey and the City of Watsonville to safely move individuals out of the Pajaro River channel and into housing.

The County is also committed to improving behavioral health services and will soon have access to 100 new supportive units through projects already underway, and is building a new Children’s Crisis Stabilization Center to provide 24 crisis stabilization and long-term care beds for youth.

With Santa Cruz County now the least affordable rental market in the U.S. and studies showing homelessness spikes wherever housing prices outpace incomes, the Housing for Health Division also supports structural change in the form of policies to help develop additional housing opportunities for residents, such as the County’s Sustainability Update and Housing Element.

What shelter programs does the City run?

Programs and Services

In response to the growing number of homeless and unhoused people in the City of Santa Cruz, the City expanded homelessness services in 2022.

How to Participate: Individuals interested in shelter can contact City staff at 831-359-5996 to complete an intake interview. Participants must adhere to a code of conduct and a set of community-generated agreements.

1220 River St. Transitional Community Camp

The River Street Transitional Community Camp, which has 27 tent spots, is located on City-owned property. Participants have access to basic services such as showers and cooking facilities, with staff providing daily oversight and support. Participants are required to meet with City staff once a week, and work with them to complete an Individual Service Plan. The Plan will help identify steps to move you toward stable, permanent and housing. This site is low barrier — pets, possessions, and partners are welcome.

The City Overlook Shelter at the Santa Cruz Armory

The City Overlook is a temporary, tent-based safe sleeping program operated by The Salvation Army provides space for up to 135 tents, has 24/7 staff support, and offers two meals a day. Participants can utilize this program for up to six months.

City programs at the Armory offer participants hygiene facilities, electrical charging, access to health care, transportation to and from the site, and connections to support services. Participants must adhere to a code of conduct. Drugs and alcohol are not allowed in the shelter. The gate is staffed 24/7 with a security guard.

The Homeless Persons Health Project, a program of Santa Cruz County, brings their mobile health unit, doctors and health care providers to the Armory 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 10am-12pm. Services offered:

General medicine
Urgent Care
Wound Care
Flu + COVID-19 vaccine (schedule to be determined)
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Care Coordination

Brief background: In June 2022, the County made the decision to discontinue their emergency shelter programs throughout the region. During this time hundreds of people were displaced and the City of Santa Cruz made it a priority to support our local homeless community by managing, developing, and funding ongoing shelter programs in partnership with other service providers. The programs formerly offered by the County were of similar size to those currently being offered by the City.

Does the City have a Safe Parking Program?

What is the City's Safe Parking Program?

The City has developed a safe parking program, where oversized vehicles used for habitation can safely park. Participants must adhere to a code of conduct.

The Overnight Safe Parking Program provides space for up to 15 oversized vehicles in downtown, City-owned lots. This program provides overnight parking and guests can stay up to 30 says with the possibility of an extension. Hygiene services and refuse disposal are available on site. This program can be expanded as needed. To access the overnight safe parking programs, call 831-420-5093 or email: safeparking@cityofsantacruz.com.

The Long-term Safe Parking Program provides space for up to 20 oversized vehicles at the National Guard Armory. This program provides 24/7 parking and guests may stay up to six months. Case management, housing navigation, health care, and hygiene services are provided on-site. To access the long-term safe parking programs call 831-515-8665 or email: safeparking@cityofsantacruz.com.

Learn more about the City's Oversized Vehicle Ordinance. Regular updates about the ordinance will be posted to CityofSantaCruz.com/OVO.

What is the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance?

What is the City’s oversized vehicle ordinance and what is the current enforcement status?

This ordinance regulates oversized vehicle parking on city streets for everyone- whether you're a resident with a street address, an out-of-town visitor, or unhoused. The ordinance includes a prohibition on oversized vehicle parking on city streets between midnight and 5:00 a.m. without a permit. An oversized vehicle is: (a) >20’ in length, or (b) >8’ tall and >7’ wide.

Please see FAQ and estimated project timeline on the City's Parking website. The City currently estimates that Oversized Vehicle Ordinance enforcement will begin in Fall 2023. Exact date still to be determined.

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