Clean running water, access to restrooms and three meals a day — for many, these basic needs are taken for granted.
But for some unhoused Santa Cruz community members, Housing Matters was one of the only places they could find these resources. Housing Matters is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Cruz that aims to support individuals struggling with being unhoused. They announced their plan to discontinue day service programming in April 2026.
For community members who relied on these services, which included the use of showers, bathrooms and mailboxes, continual access may be even harder to come by.
“We have a pretty high rate per capita of people experiencing houselessness. I think the latest hit count was about 1,400 people who are experiencing homelessness,” said Mer Stafford, Housing Matters’ chief impact officer. “They’re the most vulnerable people in our communities, so serving that population serves the whole community.”
According to Stafford, in 2024, Housing Matters provided 1,669 individuals with mailbox services, 1,800 individuals with bathroom access and 975 people with access to showers. On a daily basis, upwards of 80 people utilized both restroom and shower services. At the time of publication, it is not confirmed whether or not any UC Santa Cruz students facing houselessness used their day services.
Housing Matters’ decision to shutter day services was unrelated to the federal administration’s cuts to funding for permanent supportive housing. According to Stafford, it was actually due to the nonprofit’s prospective plans to expand their campus facilities.
“The reason that we’re discontinuing day services is [because] we are building a 120-unit permanent supportive housing building on our campus,” Stafford said. “Our board of directors and CEO Phil Kramer felt that having this permanent supportive housing in conjunction with the interim shelter was an incompatible use of our tiny two acres of land.”
While it is unknown how many UCSC students utilize Housing Matters’ day services, with Santa Cruz’s soaring rent prices and an inconsistent lottery system for on-campus housing, the end of services could be detrimental to student life and well-being.
Currently, UCSC houses more than 9,300 students, which is roughly 50 percent of the undergraduate student population. The other half of the undergraduate population are left to look for housing off-campus, where options are scarce.
When City on a Hill Press reporters asked UCSC Assistant Vice Chancellor Scott Hernandez-Jason whether or not there would be changes to the UCSC housing lottery system for the 2026-27 academic year, he responded with little clarity:
“The campus regularly reviews its housing assignment process to see if there are opportunities for improvement. We will share updates about the process for the 2026-27 academic year in the coming year.”
Without Housing Matters’ day services available, people grappling with being unhoused will have to turn to other resources for help.
RESOURCES:
Slug Support
A resource for all students in need of basic assistance. The program is for students, whether they are in need of immediate assistance or just need help navigating an emerging problem. Their office can be found at the Hahn Student Services building in room 245.
Formerly Unhoused Youth Support
(831)459-5899
An on-campus resource that provides formerly and currently unhoused students support through mentorship, community, academic and financial guidance and more. Other supportive resources are listed on their webpage.
211 Santa Cruz
(831)713-4111
An off-campus resource available over the phone 24-hours a day. Connects residents with information about health and human services.