Homelessness has declined substantially in Santa Cruz County since 2007 according to a report released Tuesday August 4 by the United Way of Santa Cruz County. The exception is Watsonville, where the homeless population is rising. The one-day survey of the county's homeless people, taken on January 22, counted those living on the streets as well as those residing in shelters. The biennial count showed that an estimated 2,265 homeless people live in Santa Cruz County compared to 2,789 in 2007.
The report also showed a 50 percent increase in people seeking services in the county's shelters. "The expanded services of the Salvation Army of Watsonville, Families in Transition and Pajaro Valley Shelter Services has really helped to increase the number of people who are sheltered and on their way to a more stable life" says Mary Lou Goeke, Executive Director of the United Way of Santa Cruz County.
The 2009 Santa Cruz County Homeless Census and Survey was conducted by several two-person teams consisting of a volunteer and a homeless person, who acted as a "guide". There were followup in-depth interviews with 401 homeless people in an attempt to better understand why they are homeless. Click here for a detailed copy of the Census and Survey.
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