Housing Development & Preservation:
Resources
County-Wide Services
Text or call 2-1-1 to access free and confidential referrals to services in Santa Cruz County 24/7. The 2-1-1 Santa Cruz County program is a comprehensive information and referral service provided by United Way of Santa Cruz County.
Through this program, over 3,500 Santa Cruz County callers receive information about housing, health, and human services available to them each year.
Inclusionary Housing (Measure O)
Affordable rental and for-sale units covered under this Measure
Security Deposit Assistance
Rental security deposit assistance for low income households. hacosantacruz.org (831) 454-9455
Housing Choice Voucher Program & Landlord Incentive Program
Rental Housing Vouchers & Landlord Incentive Program - hacosantacruz.org (831) 454-9455
Low Income Rental Units in Santa Cruz County
List of eligible rental properties - hacosantacruz.org “Find Rental Housing
Emergency Rental Assistance
Up to 2 month’s rental assistance to very low income households facing eviction - cabinc.org (831) 763-2147
Habitat for Humanity
Creates housing for low-income households within Santa Cruz County - habitatmontereybay.org (831) 469-4663
Building Code Violations
Service requests for suspected code violations on private property - City of Santa Cruz Planning Department - cityofsantacruz.com (831) 420-5110
Find Affordable Housing
Find affordable housing resources, upcoming affordable housing project information and waitlists.
Affordable Housing Projects Map
Map of 100% affordable housing projects OR with additional affordable units beyond local code.
Citywide Upcoming Significant Housing Projects Map
Citywide Upcoming Significant Housing Projects Map
Housing Matters
Shelter services, day services and hygiene services, 115 Coral Street - (831) 458-6020
Salvation Army Shelter
Shelter services, day services, and food services, 721 Laurel Street - (831) 426-8365
Veteran’s Services Office
Housing resources, food services, and homeless services for veterans - (831) 454-7276
Santa Cruz Free Guide
English and Spanish resource guides for people experiencing homelessness
Downtown Streets Team
Helping homeless and low-income men and women rebuild their lives. (831) 713-3708
Encompass Community Services
Behavioral health, family and social well-being, early childhood education, housing services - (831) 459-0444
Mental Health Clinic Action Network of Santa Cruz
A peer-run mental health organization - mhcan.org (831) 469-0462
Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health Housing Coordinator
Specialized treatment and supportive housing - (831) 454-4951
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
Free legal services for low-income Californians related to housing - 1-800-337-0690
Tenant Sanctuary
Trained tenant counselors and a staff attorney are available to help tenants understand what rights they have in a given situation. Tenant Sanctuary does not provide legal representation.
Factoids
We have a deep understanding of the housing environment in Santa Cruz. Here are some of the details.
21,594
Households (Census, 2018-2022)
47%
Owner-occupied Housing Units Rate (Census, 2018-2022)
53%
Renter-occupied Housing Units Rate (Census, 2018-2022)
Partners
We work with some incredible organizations to help Santa Cruz flourish. Contact us for more information on any of our partners.
About Choose Santa Cruz
Choose Santa Cruz is the flagship program of Santa Cruz Economic Development (SCED). A department of the City of Santa Cruz, we promote economic vitality and growth citywide in four interconnected areas.
We are your go-to resource for business growth and creation within the City of Santa Cruz
We guide complex multi-year City projects that drive and underpin our economy
We shepherd multi-family mixed income housing projects from idea to move-in
We support the arts & cultural events that make Santa Cruz a great place to live, work, & visit