Santa Cruz County seeks youth homelessness proposals

Santa Cruz County is now turning to the community, to help solve the problem of homeless youth on the Central Coast.

The county says it’s a serious problem that it will have some money for but wants to take the right approach.

Santa Cruz County was one of 10 communities in the nation to receive a grant worth $2.2 million to help homeless youth.

Now they’re looking at ways to achieve that goal.

Homelessness is a major issue in Santa Cruz County, one that knows no age.

“We have roughly four hundred and fifty homeless youth at this time and 99 percent of them are unsheltered and living on the streets,” said Rayne Marr, the county homeless services coordinator, “That’s one of the highest numbers nationwide among communities of our size.”

Though help is offered, Marr says it’s limited.

“We really need to have youth specific services,” Marr said, “They can’t always avail themselves of the kinds of programs that are out there for adults.”

That’s why Santa Cruz County is asking non-profits and other organizations for help to come up with possible solutions in several areas.

“A day services center, a drop in center where youth can go and receive basic hygiene services,” Marr said, “An additional program would be host homes which is an opportunity for youth to live in the home of another family.”

Those are just some of the areas of focus brought by a youth advisory board made up of 16 to 24 year olds.

They’ll also be reviewing specific ideas that come in. Rayne says their influence will have a major impact.

“Just demonstrating how well we can partner and how we can do something new by bringing in that youth voice that really will inform all the projects that we ultimately implement.”

If you’ve got an idea you’d like to share, you need to send a letter of intent by March 1st and the full proposal by April 20th.

For more information click here.