$3.4M Awarded To Groups Tackling Homelessness: Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Local groups serving homeless Santa Cruz County residents will receive $3.4 million, the Homeless Action Partnership of Santa Cruz County announced.

The largest award at $924,000 went to the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County, which operates the Shelter Plus Care Program. The program provides 40 housing units to chronically homeless people with disabilities, Homeless Action Partnership said in a press release.

The second-largest award at $807,019 went to the Homeless Persons Health Project and Front Street Housing MATCH Program, which provides 41 housing units to chronically homeless people with behavioral and mental health conditions, according to a press release.

Families in Transition, in Watsonville, received $473,900 for First Step-Housing for Families With Children, which provides 12 homeless families with security deposits and rental subsidies for a year, the press release said.

The grant funding was part of a $2 billion U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program. Santa Cruz County secured 30 percent more funding for 2020, compared to 2019.