Santa Cruz County Veteran Network-Homeless

Housing

Hands holding a House with the American Flag

SSVF Grants

Provide deposit and rent assistance to eligible homeless or at risk of homelessness veterans. Grants are issued through the Veterans Resource Center and the Homeless Services Center.

Emergency Housing (HCHV 90-Day Program)

The Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program has a 90-day emergency housing program for eligible homeless veterans. During their stay, veterans learn to access VA resources are helped in transitioning into permanent housing.

Grant and Per Diem (Transitional Housing- Up to 2 years)

The Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program offers up to 2 years of transitional housing resources to homeless and at risk of being homeless veterans and their families.

HUD-VASH

The HUD-VASH Program is a partnership between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and many local Public Housing Authorities (PHA). The program combines the Housing Choice Voucher providing rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. The Housing Choice Voucher can be used at the the rental of their choosing.

Visit Our Housing Page SSFV Locator Local Provider

VA Healthcare

VA provides world-class health care to eligible Veterans. The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,200 sites of care, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s top healthcare providers.

Visit our Healthcare page to get an in-depth look at all of the available resources and providers.

Applying for VA Healthcare VA Palo Alto Healthcare VA Health Benefits VA Priority Groups California Veteran Reintegration Healthcare Program Visit Our Healthcare Page Local Provider

Local Providers

There are multitude of providers for Veterans in the Santa Cruz County and nearby areas. There are government entities and private enterprises that can provide you with assistance for employment, benefits, housing and more.

Local Veteran member organizations provide camaraderie and support to Veterans in the Santa Cruz County.

Non Profit organizations provide Veterans with services and resources outside of the VA to help facilitate reintegration to civilian life, supporting Veterans in need, and more.

The elected officials of California have a vested interest in the well being and support of Veterans.

Visit our Providers page with the link below to get an a list of the available providers with the resources and support that each offer.

Visit Our Providers Page Local Provider

Mental Health

VA Palo Alto Health Care System provides a broad array of mental health services, both inpatient and outpatient. They provide consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a variety of issues that can impact emotional well-being such as:

Addiction to drugs or alcohol, addictive behavior
PTSD
Depression, Sadness, Grief
Anxiety, worry, nervousness
Family & Relationship problems.
Job-related issues.
Stress from medical conditions or pain
Managing anger/aggression
Self-harming thoughts or behaviors

The links below connects you with our mental health page where all mental health resources and providers available.

VA Palo Alto - Mental Health

Substance Use Programs

Veterans may have problems with use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs. Substance use can harm health, cause mood and behavior problems, hurt social relationships, and cause financial problems.

Available treatments address all types of problems related to substance use, from unhealthy use of alcohol to life-threatening addictions. The VA Palo Alto health care system has three main programs for treating substance abuse:

1) Addiction Consultation and Treatment (ACT)

2) Domiciliary Program

3) Foundations of Recovery Program

Substance abuse services also provided and supported by the VA include:

First Step

Foundations of Recovery

HVRP

IOP (Intensive Outpatient Programs)

Please visit our Substance Help page to get a comprehensive overview of all the services and resources available to help with substance abuse.

Addiction Treatment Services VA Palo Alto-First Step Santa Cruz AA - Meeting Schedule Military.com - Drug and Alcohol Addiction Visit Our Substance Help Page Local Provider

Discharge Upgrade

Veterans with less than honorable discharges have options available. If you have an OTH discharge and a service related disability you can apply for a Character of Service Determination. Please contact the VSO Office for more information.

Links below provide information and assistance with Discharge Upgrades.

The Veterans Consortium Swords to Plowshares Website CalTAP- Discharge Upgrade Realwarriors - Discharge Upgrade Local Provider

Veterans Services Day

Veteran Service Day is a day honoring all who served. You will find a variety of resources available to help Veterans and their families.

VA Medical Doctors on site
VA Subs group
Housing resources
Employment resources
Computer Lab
VSO Services
Veteran Advocates
Hot Meal
Food Pantry
And More.....

Veterans Services Day Flyer Local Provider

Stepping Up Santa Cruz

Follow the link below to a Homeless Directory of resources in Santa Cruz County.

Homeless Resource Directory Local Provider

Free Vision Care through medi-Cal

The Medi-Cal service has the goal of providing free vision care to low-income, working poor, and/or under-insured families throughout the state of California. The those meeting the eligibility will be provided free optometry services. To find out more about eligibility requirements and coverage, please use the Medi-Cal links below.

Medi-Cal Coverage Medi-Cal Vision Benefits Local Provider

Safe Spaces Parking Program

Safe Spaces is a parking program for families and individuals living in their vehicles that provides a safe place to park overnight. The program operates at faith communities in the City and around Aptos.
To apply for this program please contact contact Rev. Joseph Jacobs @ 831-753-8555 or whitecrane@mac.com.

** AN APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE ANY VEHICLE IS ASSIGNED TO A CHURCH SITE. PLEASE NO DRIVE ON TO A CHURCH SITE W/O APPROVAL**

For more information about the programs rules and details please use the below link.
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Safe Spaces Information Flier Local Provider

Providing comprehensive resources for Veterans and their families.

Local Provider @ VSO