City Adopts New Plan to Combat Houselessness: Benchlands Closure Part of New $14 Million Plan
The Santa Cruz City Council adopted the Homelessness Response Action Plan (HRAP) on March 8, taking on $14 million provided by the state to combat houselessness in the city. Improved services for the unhoused are at the heart of the plan, such as the expansion...
The Cove Community: Handling Addiction with Care
CONTENT WARNING: Descriptions and mentions of overdose, addiction, and substance abuse. Sheryl Varien is a vivacious 58-year-old transfer student and Renaissance Scholar at UC Santa Cruz. Those who are Renaissance Scholars are no strangers to hardship. They have dealt with struggles such as violence or...
Houseless Community Displaced by Benchlands Flooding
Larry Gardner has been houseless for the past six months. He left his wife, child, and housing to care for his brother who is blind, houseless, and in need of 24-hour assistance. For the first five months, Gardner and his brother found shelter at the...