People split over Santa Cruz County plan to start construction on transitional housing center
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Construction is set to begin in early April on a new bridge housing facility located at 2202 Soquel Avenue. The Santa Cruz County project aims to provide 32 beds, along with essential services, for individuals experiencing homelessness and facing behavioral health challenges.
Funded by a $10 million grant from the California Department of Health Care Services, the county is hoping to replicate the success of similar programs in other areas, such as Alameda County, where 70 percent of participants were able to transition to permanent housing. Local officials believe this initiative will be a critical step in addressing homelessness in the region.
However, not everyone is on board with the new facility. Residents in the area, particularly those living nearby, have expressed concerns about its potential impact on the community. Jeff Goyard, a Soquel resident, voiced his skepticism, stating, "Something needs to be done about the homeless situation. It seems like the more money we throw at it, the worse it gets."
Ryan Barden, a Santa Cruz resident, also raised concerns based on past experiences with similar projects. "We built a certain unhoused community near Costco in Santa Cruz a while back, and it didn't turn out well because of the drugs," Barden explained. "Sometimes pouring money into things doesn't always solve the problem, but also not doing anything about it doesn't help either. So I think we have to figure out a solution to get people off the streets."
Santa Cruz County officials remain committed to ensuring that the new facility will provide a path toward stability for the homeless population. In a statement, the county emphasized its dedication to supporting vulnerable community members, saying, “This facility will serve as a critical resource for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Despite these assurances, some residents like Goyard worry about the proximity of the facility to local schools. "It depends on how they handle it, how it's monitored, how it's controlled, whether people obey the rules in the shelters or if it's just kind of another gathering place that we don’t really need," Goyard stated.
On the other hand, some residents, like Sandra Godinez Guerrero, support the facility's development. "Estaría super bien eso que está haciendo el gobierno," (It would be really good what the government is doing), she commented, stressing the importance of shelters to address the homelessness crisis in the area.
Ryan Barden also acknowledged the need for such programs, saying, "I know that I'm willing to pay some money of my taxes to help people. Of course, I mean, we have to have social safety nets. I think we all agree with that. But I think helping out the most in need, who are the homeless, is necessary."
The county hopes to open the new bridge housing facility in the early months of 2026, as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle homelessness and provide much-needed support to the unhoused population.
