City Of Santa Cruz: Larry Imwalle Appointed Homelessness Response Manager

Press release from the City of Santa Cruz:

October 05, 2021

SANTA CRUZ, CA – The City of Santa Cruz today announces the appointment of Larry Imwalle to the role of Homelessness Response Manager, effective Oct. 5.

For the last 14 years, Imwalle has served as executive director of the Action Council of Monterey County, the leading hub for social innovation in the Monterey Bay region. During his tenure, Action Council worked with local and regional foundations, public sector leaders, and social entrepreneurs to launch more than 40 community-driven projects. Before joining the Action Council, he conducted community-based research evaluation projects that have informed community investment by foundations and public agencies in the region.

“I’m excited to be joining the City to work on the homelessness challenge in Santa Cruz. I’ve been running child welfare programs for a long time, and I’ve seen the direct impacts housing instability and homelessness are having on families and children in our community,” said Imwalle.

The overarching goal of the City’s homelessness response program is to provide a pathway to County services and, ultimately, to stable housing. Reporting to Deputy City Manager Lee Butler, the Homelessness Response Manager leads both the internal and external efforts related to homelessness and helps develop the most strategic and effective ways to invest City resources towards these efforts. Imwalle’s initial priority projects include establishing safe sleeping and storage programs and evaluating how the City’s homelessness data can be improved.

“Larry has a long history of producing data-driven results in collaboration with public and non-profit sector partners. We’re very excited to have Larry join our team and build capacity in our homelessness response efforts,” said Butler.

In coordination with the countywide Homeless Action Partnership, Imwalle is also charged with organizing programs and projects with government agencies, law enforcement, community stakeholders and non-profit community-based organizations. He will serve as the City's primary project contact and coordinator on homeless issues impacting the City.

This press release was produced by the City of Santa Cruz. The views expressed here are the author’s own.