Grand Opening of Homeless Day Center In Watsonville

From The City of Watsonville: Please join us for the grand opening of the Watsonville Day Center on Monday, August 27th at 12 p.m. located at 104 Grant Street in Watsonville. The Day Center will serve as a hub for homeless and vulnerable individuals in our community and provide them with the services needed to transition out of homelessness and into stable housing, employment and treatment.“Monday is a big day for South County! Since 2015, many partners have come together to provide these much needed services. All of that work can be seen on the 27th at this Grand Opening.” said Captain Harold Laubach. The center will be set to offer a combination of Day Center services. During the day hours, it will provide an indoor home-base for individuals that currently roam the streets all day by providing them with basic services such as meals, secure storage, daily showers, laundry facilities, mail services, and internet access.

The Day Center will also host a variety of service providers and case managers from different community based organizations and government agencies to provide better access to benefits and services that are currently not being accessed by this population. Offering a low barrier entry, the Day Center will improve the economic security of this population. At night and during the winter months, the Day Center will also offer a 38 bed shelter for men, women and children with daily dinner services provided in partnership with local churches and the food bank.

The Day Center opening was made possible through a collaborative partnership between the City of Watsonville, the County of Santa Cruz and the Salvation Army. The goal of the City of Watsonville is to continue to collaborate with all partners serving the homeless in Watsonville, to increase access to services and provide opportunities for those who are ready to find employment, improve their health and to eventually find better permanent housing and not depend on shelter services or be out on the streets.

Photo courtesy Renee Schiavone/ Patch