Housing Matters

Founded in 1986, Housing Matters is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that partners with individuals and families in Santa Cruz County to create pathways out of their homelessness into permanent housing. We hold firmly to a vision that homelessness in Santa Cruz County should be rare, brief, and non-recurring. We are committed to providing programs based on Housing First practices. Housing First is a recovery-oriented, data-driven approach that centers on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing and providing additional support and services as needed. By utilizing evidence-based practices, Housing Matters is successfully exceeding goals in housing some of the most vulnerable populations in the county.Housing Matters provides a continuum of services through the following programs:1.The Loft Emergency Shelter (the Loft) provides emergency shelter to up to 57 people nightly.2.Rebele Family Shelter (RFS) provides emergency shelter to families with children and provides stable shelter to 28 families (up to 90 individuals) at any given time.3.The Recuperative Care Center (RCC) is a 35 bed medical respite shelter operated in partnership with Santa Cruz County's Homeless Persons Health Project and several local healthcare organizations.4.Supportive Services and Housing Navigation programs connect individuals and families with appropriate housing solutions and provide after-housing services to support long-term housing success.5.Casa Azul is a permanent supportive housing program with seven units, providing stable housing and wraparound services for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness.Housing Matters' campus provides a restorative experience with access to on-site medical, dental, and mental health care through our partners: Santa Cruz County's Homeless Persons Health Project and Dientes. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, we served 3857 individuals through a variety of programs. We provided over 57,703