CAP%2017%20Summary%20Report

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summary report community assessment project santa cruz county 17 YEAR 2011

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What are the dreams and aspirations of the residents of Santa Cruz County? What enriches their lives? What are their struggles? Are there differences in the quality of life, of income, of education, of health, for people in different parts of the county, for different ethnic groups, for different generations?

Since 1994 we have been fortunate in Santa Cruz County to actually know the answers to these questions. Not by anecdotes or informal discussions among our friends, but by a valid, scientific telephone survey of the households of Santa Cruz County.

Seventeen years ago a group of leaders from all sectors of our community came together to design a unified approach to understand our community’s needs. They came from education and public safety, businesses and environmental organizations, health and human services.

Convened by the United Way of Santa Cruz County, their aim was to make the most of the precious resources available to our county and to improve the factors that detracted from our residents’ quality of life. They asked what are the life experiences and conditions that make Santa Cruz County a great place to live, to retire, to raise a family? Just as key, they wanted to know what are elements that diminish our quality of life? From this, the Community Assessment Project Community Survey was born.

We have learned many interesting things about our county’s residents over the years, such as:

• 89%ofourresidentstakestepstoreducetheirhousehold’swateruse. • 41%ofourcounty’sresidentsregularlyvolunteerinthecommunity. • 23%ofourresidentspayonethirdtohalfoftheirincomeforhousing andanother23%payhalftothreequartersoftheirincomeforhousing. • 69%ofourresidentsdonotfeelbetterofffinanciallythanthey didin2010. • 72%ofourresidentsthinkattendanceinaqualitypreschoolisvery important to a child’s later success in school.

Thesurveyofover722householdshasgrownandchangedovertheyearsaswell.In 1994 we asked a cutting edge question, “Do you have access to a computer? Is it at home or work?” Needless to say this question no longer needs asking. In the early years our surveyors from Applied Survey Research in Watsonville called only land-line home telephones. Now they call both cell phones and home telephones.

The Community Survey has helped our schools, governments and non-profit organizations know what matters to our county’s residents and what they should do to make Santa Cruz County a wonderful place to live. Visit www.appliedsurveyresearch.org or www.santacruzcountycap.org to see the entire Community Survey and see if you share and agree with what matters to the residents of our county.

Mary Lou Goeke Executive Director, United Way of Santa Cruz County

Caleb Baskin

Baskin & Grant Law Firm

Susan Brutschy

Applied Survey Research

Leslie Conner

Women’s Health Center

Mary Lou Goeke

United Way of Santa Cruz County

Mike Lee

Dominican Hospital

Kirsten Liske

Ecology Action

Scott MacDonald

Santa Cruz County Probation Department

Giang Nguyen

County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency

Madeline Noya

County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department

Martina O’Sullivan

Dominican Hospital

Theresa Rouse

Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Abbie Stevens

Applied Survey Research

Susan True

First 5 Santa Cruz County

George Wolfe, MD

Community Volunteer

George Wolfe, MD Chair, CAP Steering Committee

Martina O’Sullivan Director for Community Engagement, Dominican Hospital

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Caleb Baskin

Baskin and Grant Law Firm

Donna Blitzer

UCSC

Susan Brutschy

Applied Survey Research

Leslie Conner

Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center

Christina Cuevas

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

Karen Delaney

Volunteer Centers

Willy Elliot-McCrea

Second Harvest Food Bank

Peggy Flynn

ETR Associates

Will Forest

Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency

Mary Lou Goeke

United Way of Santa Cruz County

Dan Haifley

O’Neill Sea Odyssey

Chris Johnson-Lyons

Community Action Board

Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson

First 5 Santa Cruz County

Bob Kennedy

Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency

Rama Khalsa

Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency

Eleanor Littman

Health Improvement Partnership

Kirsten Liske

Ecology Action

David McNutt, MD

Community Volunteer

Ellen Murtha

Santa Cruz Community Ventures

Madeline Noya

Santa Cruz County Human Services Department

Paul O’Brien

Community Volunteer

Martina O’Sullivan

Dominican Hospital

Doug Patrick

Community Volunteer

Rock Pfotenhauer

Cabrillo College

Raquel Ramirez Ruiz

Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust

Janet Reed

Community Volunteer

Julie Reinhardt

Imagine Supported Living Services

Susan Rozario

Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’s Office

Laura Segura

Women’s Crisis Support~ Defensa de Mujeres

Brian Spector

Wald Ruhnke and Dost Architects, LLP

Sam Storey

Community Bridges

Susan True

First 5 Santa Cruz County

Michael Watkins

Santa Cruz County Office of Education

George Wolfe, MD

Community Volunteer

CAP Steering Committee

CAP Financial Sponsors

table of contents

Applied Survey Research

AT&T California

Cabrillo College

City of Capitola

County of Santa Cruz

Human Services Department

City of Santa Cruz

City of Scotts Valley

City of Watsonville

Community Action Board

Community Bridges

Volunteer Center

Community Foundation of

Santa Cruz County County

economy What does it mean when the economy gets better but the job picture doesn’t?

education The budget for education is way down, while public trust is up

environment Santa Cruz says yes to the car, no to the bus

health Desparities in south and north county health

public safety Gangs or not, we feel safe

social environment Don’t worry, be happy works for us

Office of Education

Dominican Hospital

First 5 Santa Cruz County

Pajaro Valley Community

Health Trust

PG&E

Santa Cruz Community

Counseling Center

Sutter Maternity and

Surgery Center

United Way of Santa Cruz County

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The results of the Community Assessment Project Telephone Survey strongly support the conclusion that Santa Cruz County is experiencing a jobless economic recovery, in which the “recovery” aspect appears tangible, but limited in scope.

Data collected over the past 17 years—including keydata collected since 2007—highlight the economictrends impacting both the county and its residents. More people are feeling better off financially than they

did two years ago, but that number includes less than onethirdofallsurveyed.Infact,only31%felttheywerebetter offfinancially in2011 than in2010.While thispercentageisanincreasefrom20%in2009—whichwashopefullythedepthoftherecentrecession—itiswelloffthe2005and2007marksof40%and42%respectively.

Additional data from respondents living in the southern partofthecountyreveal thatonly28%feelbetteroffthis year, underscoring the increased severity of the

downturn in that area. While the data show some indication that the county as a whole is on an upswing out of the troughsetin2009,thatisnoguaranteeof continued recovery.

Why aren’t community

members feeling better off

financially? Consistent with historical trends, the number one factor causing this financial discomfort is cost of living increases. However, only 24% of respondentsidentified it as the top factor, as opposed to35%in2005and41%in2007.

What has changed? Dramatic reductions of income levels have increasingly impacted feelings of financial well-being. In 2011, nearly20 percent of respondents identifiedreduced income as the cause of their financial stress. Similarly, almost 17percent of respondents reported unemployment as the cause of their response.

economyA jobless recovery is an economic phenomenon in which the economy as a whole experiences growth, while maintaining or decreasing the level of employment.

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Local attorney, Caleb Baskin at Graniterock Company, a large local employer.

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Joblessness appears pervasive. Of those identifying themselves as unemployed, more than half cite the lack of available jobs as the reason they can’t find new employment. Respondents reported feeling as if they had fewer opportunities to work in the Santa Cruz area over the last decade.

“Community members find themselves in a vice grip, with difficult economic realities impacting them from all sides,” said Caleb Baskin, an attorney with the Santa Cruz-based law firm, Baskin & Grant, LLP. “On the one hand, their day-to-day life is more expensive. On the other hand, and compounding the problem, they are either earning less or not at all in the case of the unemployed.”

The result of increasing costs of living and decreasing incomes has been to dramatically shift the percentage of income used for housing. In 2007, nearly half ofrespondentsspent30%or lessofafter-tax incomeonhousingcosts.Now,thatnumberisonly44%percent.

Incontrast,thenumberofpeoplespending75%ormoreonhousinghasdoubledsince2007.Acrosstheboard in southern Santa Cruz County, respondents are spending a higher percentage of income on housing than those in the northern part.

How can the community most

improve the financial well-being

of its citizens? Wherever one lives in Santa Cruz County, the data answer this question in the same way: jobs. The lack of available local employment opportunities for those unemployed, underemployed or commuting out of the county must be addressed. Encouraging the attraction, creation and retention of living-wage jobs to Santa Cruz County is the single most effective step that can be taken to address the concerns raised by respondents.

economyI worked 10 years for a successful roofing company

when unfortunately business slowed down. After

months of reduced income, unemployment

became my reality. One year ago, the economy

changed my life dramatically. But with the help of

the Homeless Services Center, I have been able to

turn things around for my family. The Rebele Family

Shelter provides shelter and stability for us and I am

back to work full-time and building an attainable

clear path for my family’s future.

Building an Attainable, Clear Path for the Future

Joseph Keith and wife, Olivia Cartwright

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The Community Assessment Project looked at three key areas relating to education: satisfaction with the local education system, school safety and the importance of quality preschools. In each of these areas, survey participants revealed a general level of trust in local schools being able to provide children with a safe and supportive learning environment.

Dr. Faris Sabbah, Director of Migrant Education for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD), believes that the confidence that parents and community members have placed in their schools is a testament to the important role they have played as a safe haven, especially during these difficult economic times.

“Our schools are communicating a more complex understanding of the challenges and successes of our students and schools,” Dr. Sabbah said. “As a result, parents are standing in support of their schools as they continue to improve, even as the legacy measures of No Child Left Behind unjustly brand more and more schools as failing.”

As schools in Santa Cruz County continue to make progress in student achievement, the community’s satisfaction with the local system of education is at its highest,with28%ofrespondentsstatingtheywereverysatisfied. When reviewing survey data from the smaller pool of parents whose children currently attend schools in the county, an even higher level of satisfaction existed. Surveyed parents stated they were very or somewhat satisfiedwithelementaryschools(98%)middleschools(96%)andhighschools(94%).

Astothesecondkeyarea,recentevents—whethertakingplacelocally,nationallyorinternationally—havebroughtschool safety back into the limelight. Perceptions of safety in both elementary and high schools are holding strong at 97%and92%,respectively.Middleschools,however,areshowingadeclineof4pointsto93%sincethelastsurvey.Though this decline needs to be studied, overall, parents

educationEven in the face of dire budget conditions, schools continue to make strides in building trust among parents and community members.

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Dr. Faris Sabbah, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

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perceived their children’s schools as safe, with results rangingfrombetween92%and97%.

Statewide and local campaigns, such as those from First 5 Santa Cruz County, and First 5 California, have succeeded in building awareness about the importance of quality preschools. Survey results demonstrated a slight increase in the percentage of respondents who believed attending a quality preschool was important, nowupto72%.

“Thanks to these efforts, parents increasingly recognize quality preschools as critically important with the highest leverage for academic success which will change their children’s future,” Dr. Sabbah said. “These encouraging results of the perceptions of community members and parents are indicative of the efforts of teachers, administrators, support staff, community agencies, and parents to ensure students are provided with a supportive learning environment.

“The flourishing strategic alliances developed between school districts in Santa Cruz County, such as PVUSD, with powerful agencies such as Salud Para La Gente, the Educational Partnership Center at UC Santa Cruz, the County Office of Education, United Way, the MAIA Foundation and many others help to build safety nets to meet our students’ needs and maximize their academic and personal potential,” Dr. Sabbah continued. “It is clear that parents and our community increasingly recognize that their schools offer their children a safe, supportive environment that will catalyze their pursuit of academic achievement and lifelong learning.

“The hope parents hold for their children’s future is matched only by our school community’s zeal to build effective and accountable systems to support students.”

educationIt’s very important for my daughter to be in pre-

school. I have learned a lot, too. I was very shy

but the Head Start program has helped me to

be more open. The children learn so much about

numbers, letters and English.

Help for Blossoming Learners

Natividad (left) and Zarahi Lopez

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Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious solution. In fact, one out of five Community Assessment Project survey respondents indicated that nothing would change their usage of single-use vehicles while 37%indicated they have never used an alternative form of transportation.

Reasons given for not using alternative forms of transportation included schedule, convenience, availability and the amount of time it takes to arrive at a destination.

However, mass transit has shown to be successful in some places, such as in areas of high-density living. Large cities such as New York, Paris, and London are well known and respected for their transit systems. Smaller areas such as college and university campuses are likewise renowned for their transit systems.

So, what does this mean for Santa Cruz County?

Despite the challenges, there are many benefits of having a successful transit system. Communities that encourage people to get out of their cars can promote better health through exercise as well as a reduction in car trips resulting in reduced air pollution and improved air quality. The country’s dependency on foreign oil can be reduced while the need for spending money to continually expand roadways can be minimized.

While creating a more meaningful transit system for a community is a daunting challenge, Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski, Ecology Coordinator for Dominican Hospital and Catholic Healthcare West, believes it can be done.

“Although there is an existing bus system in Santa Cruz County, it goes woefully underused,” Sister Mary Ellen said. “All future development decisions should be made with an eye toward supporting a future transit system that will be much more effective than our existing system. Protection of open space, minimization of sprawl and densification of existing areas are all tools which will make a future transit system more viable.

environmentAlternative Forms of Transportation: Getting single occupants out of their cars is a huge challenge.

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Sister Mary Ellen Leciewjewski, Dominican Hospital

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Jess Brown, Farm Bureau; Thomas Broz, Live Earth Farm; and Nancy Vail, Pie Ranch.

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“In the meantime, occasionally, for our own health, let’s get out of our car,” Sister Mary Ellen continued. “Ride a bike, take a bus or walk somewhere with a friend or co-worker.”

WaterWater concerns are front and center across a thirsty world.

That is certainly the case in Santa Cruz County, where morethan40%ofrespondentsviewedwaterqualityandavailability as critical issues related to the environment.

While most residences use nearly half of their water irrigating their landscaping, CAP data revealed that nearly 90% of residents are taking steps to reducetheir household water consumption. Actions included installing low-flow showerheads and toilets and purchasing front-loading washing machines, which use less than half the water of traditional top-loading machines. Additionally, some respondents had modified their landscaping to reduce irrigation needs and/or started using timers to ensure water was not being wasted.

environmentWe do eco-friendly practices because we believe

that part of environmental change is making a

series of individual and lifestyle choices, and we’re

trying to do our part. We conserve water and en-

ergy with our super-efficient appliances. We get a

CSA share from Live Earth Farms and supplement

by farmers’ market goods. We bike as much as

we can. We have a cargo bike with a kids’ seat,

which works great for most trips around town. Plus,

riding a bike instead of driving is not only a good

idea environmentally and economically, but it

always makes me smile. And that’s usually not the

case in a car.

Individual Choices Add Up to Change

Phil Boutelle, wife Megan

Caspers and son, Desmond

Recent changes to the California Building Code have greatly streamlined the permitting process for installationofgreywatersystems.Useofgreywater—recycled wastewater from kitchen, laundry and bathroom cycles (excluding toilet)—can greatlyreduce the amount of drinking water currently used to irrigate landscaping. Minimizing grass and adding native and low water-use plants are other ways of reducing the need for residential irrigation water.

Inordertomaintainwaterquality,72%ofresidentsare taking steps to reduce water pollution at home and work. Actions include keeping paints and chemicals out of storm drains, washing cars at car washes rather than on the street and using less toxic fertilizers and pesticides.

“Human survival depends on water,” Sister Mary Ellen said. “All the water now in circulation has been here since the planet was first formed. No more, no less. It is urgent that we continue to address this extremely important issue and keep water safe and available for generations to come.”

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Harbor High School students hard at work in the school’s technology room

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Assessment Project telephone survey this year. Individuals were asked to rate their own health on a scale from poor to excellent. The resulting data showed a disparity between southern Santa Cruz County and the rest of the county.InthePajaroValley,25%ofrespondentsfeltthattheir health was “fair” or “poor,” higher than the rest of thecountyat14%.

The report also shows that there are more obese adults in the county, especially in Pajaro Valley. In the county overall, obesity increased from 12% of respondents in2007 to 21% in 2011. Twenty-nine percent of PajaroValley respondents were obese in 2011, compared to19%ofrespondentsintherestofthecounty.Associatedwith the rise in obesity is the increased proportion of diabetesinPajaroValleyrespondents,17%versus11%inthe rest of the county.

health

Health: Prolonging Years of Healthy Life

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Giang Nguyen, County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency

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The new question about people’s perception of their health status can be a transformative tool for planning, funding, and comparing the effectiveness of health programs and treatments.

“A quality of life measure provides critical information about health status and health inequalities,” said Giang Nguyen, Deputy Director of the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency. “It can also be used to assess the impact of multiple diseases on a person’s quality of life and act as a great predictor of whether or not someone will go to an emergency room or be hospitalized.” Ms. Nguyen continued. “The measure can also be linked to social and behavioral risk factors, such as poverty, smoking and high school dropout rates that can then be correlated to diseases in a population.”

The passage of the new federal law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), offers two particular opportunities for Santa Cruz County. The first is the establishment of

a national prevention and health promotion strategy that recognizes the true factors that determine the health potential of a community—housing,physical environment, early childhood environment, education, income and social status. These factors are also known as the social determinants of health.

The second opportunity offered by the ACA is the promise of increased access to care. CAP data showed the percentage of community members who hadhealthinsurancecoveragedroppedfrom89%in2007toa10-yearlowof80%in2011.

“Not only will the ACA increase health insurance coverage in this county with more than 30,000individuals newly eligible for coverage through Medi-Cal and the new California Health Insurance Exchange, but it sets standards on benefits such as caps on lifetime coverage,” Ms. Nguyen explained.

I was in financial distress, struggling for income,

and certainly could not afford health insurance

premiums. Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center

was available to me when I needed them. They

treated me like a human being and with the

utmost professionalism.

Glad for the Safety Net

Tina Ash

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Feeling safe in one’s home, neighborhood and community is paramount to an individual’s well-being.

Far too often, it seems that one’s sense of security can be challenged in a single instance, perhaps from a mere glimpse of the TV nightly news or a quick glance at the front page of a newspaper.

But perhaps this is not the case in Santa Cruz County?

“Santa Cruzans have complicated but largely positive attitudes about crime control and public safety in the county,” said Dr. Craig Haney, a UC Santa Cruz law professor. “Overall, public safety remains a concern for a sizable minority of Santa Cruz County residents.”

Basedondatagoingbackto2000,alittlemorethanathirdof respondents on average have reported each year that they were concerned about crime in the county, according to findings of the Community Assessment Project. Similarly, the percentage of respondents reporting that they were very effective with law enforcement hovered ataround40%overthesameperiod.

At a more personal level, only 2% of respondents feltunsafeintheirneighborhoodsin2011.Meanwhile3outof 4 parents felt that their children had a safe place to playin2011.

There was a dramatic decrease in the number of respondents who were very concerned about family violence, fromahighof62%in2000toa lowof37%in2011.

Fewer than one out of every six residents reported that gangs had a big impact on their community in both 2009and2011.Therewasadecreaseinthepercentageof respondents reporting that methamphetamine use hadimpactedtheirneighborhoodfrom52%in2009to50%in2011.Therewasalsoadecreaseinthenumber

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Dr. Craig Haney, UC Santa Cruz law professor (left) and Megan Joseph, United Way of Santa Cruz County

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Manny Solano, Watsonville Chief of Police; and Scott MacDonald, Santa Cruz County Probation Department

Jess Brown, Farm Bureau; Thomas Broz, Live Earth Farm; and Nancy Vail, Pie Ranch.

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of respondents who reported that marijuana for recreational use use was very acceptable to them from almosthalf,29%in2005to—13%in2011

As Director of Community Organizing of the United Way of Santa Cruz County, Megan Joseph can point to a number of reasons for the county’s predominately positive outlook on public safety.

“The successful implementation of effective community-based alternatives to incarceration has undoubtedly led to the improved rates of perceived safety shown in the CAP report,” said Ms. Joseph. “These alternatives have resulted in extremely low incarceration rates compared to other counties in the state, reduced rates of recidivism among our juvenile population, and the closing of a juvenile facility.”

With new challenges soon to appear on the horizon for both county justice officials and the community, Ms. Joseph said she anticipates an even greater involvement by all to ensure the success of meeting those challenges.

public safetyWhen I walked in the door at Gemma and a

house manager greeted me with love and com-

passion I knew that this was the beginning of a

new journey for me. At that time I had burned so

many bridges that my self-esteem and self worth

were at a bare minimum. Gemma believed in

me! I came straight out of prison with a lot of fear

that I would mess up again! Going through the

rules of the house didn’t overwhelm me, but give

me security to know that this is the place that I will

learn how to live.”

Learning to Do Life

Molly Relyea

“The recent Supreme Court decision to uphold AssemblyBill109mandatesthattensofthousandsof non-serious, non-violent and non-sexual offenders incarcerated individuals in California’s prisons be moved to supervision at the local level, in response to our state’s severely overcrowded prisons,” Ms. Joseph explained. “While the media has largely portrayed this decision and its possible impact on local communities as an impending crisis, Santa Cruz County is approaching the planning and preparation for this impact as an opportunity.

“AB109 provides our criminal justice officials withan opportunity to shift outdated or economically unsustainable systems and policies that do not currently serve the needs of our community,” she continued. “Our officials will have the opportunity to build upon their proven track record of successful community-based corrections and restorative justice practices while ensuring the highest standard of public safety.”

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People in Santa Cruz are happy.

While that may come as a surprise to some, or even many, the 2011 Community Assessment Project reportedthat98%ofthepopulationwaseitherverysatisfiedorsomewhat satisfied with their overall quality of life.

Additionally, 86% of respondents reported that theyhad access to all of their basic needs such as housing, foodandhealthcare;75%felttheirchildrenhadenoughafter-schoolactivitiesavailabletothem;and92%oftherespondents believed that neighbors helped each other.

When asked what contributed to their quality of life, respondents listed the top factors as scenery and climate, family and friends, and the slow pace. When asked what detracted from their quality of life, the number one response was “nothing.” The second factor listed was “traffic.”

However, not all Santa Cruz County residents are experiencing the same quality of life. Over one-quarter of Latino respondents went without basic needs, such as health care, food, child care and housing, as compared to 10%ofCaucasians.AndLatinosreportedlesssatisfactionwith the number of after-school and weekend activities for their children. Sixty-six percent of Latino respondents said their children had enough after-school and weekend activities,comparedto85%ofCaucasianrespondents.

For Homeless Services Center Executive Director Monica Martinez, quality of life for the homeless population in the county is especially troubling.

“If this survey had been taken solely by the homeless, a few of the most significant factors impacting quality of life would be physical safety, nightly exposure to the elements and daily food insecurity.” Ms. Martinez continued, “A majority of the respondents would be struggling with an active ailment or chronic health issue that has been compounded by lack of treatment. A third of the respondents would be employed, but earn wages that keep them living in poverty, and another third would

social environmentEven in the face of dire budget conditions, schools continue to make strides in building trust among parents and community members.

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Monica Martinez, Homeless Services Center

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be employable, but unable to find a job.”

Ms. Martinez went on to predict: “There would be an increased trend of people facing homelessness for the first time, particularly among seniors and youth. And the number one issue impacting quality of life would be a lack of affordable housing.”

But while Ms. Martinez agreed that her experience of the quality of life for those individuals she sees on a daily basis clearly differed from that of the CAP respondents, the report enlightened her as to why such a disparity may exist.

“Not only are the majority of people in Santa Cruz happy, but they are also involved,” Ms. Martinez said. “Those numbers far exceed national averages of similar communities. Despite the perfect dichotomy between the “haves” and the “have nots,” there is also a perfect storm of potential. A majority of our citizens are fortunate, invested and informed—a triple threatof civic engagement that can overcome the greatest obstacles of economic inequality.”

Indeed, the CAP reported that during the past year morethanhalf,54%ofrespondentshadcorrespondedwithalocalelectedofficialwhile71%hadsignedapetition.Additionally,65%haddonatedmoneytoalocalcharitywhile41%hadregularlyvolunteeredinthe community.

In regards tokeeping informed,80%reportedthatthey were very or somewhat knowledgeable about local issues.

“I am not discouraged by inconsistencies between these results and my day-to-day experiences in Santa Cruz,” Ms. Martinez said. “Rather, I am proud to live in a place that boasts both beautiful landscapes and compassionate citizens and I am inspired by the potential that exists among my civic-minded neighbors.”

“I believe that together we can build solutions to homelessness and I pose a challenge to our citizens,” she continued. “Let’s work together to bridge the gaps until the least fortunate of us can answer the question ‘What takes away from your quality of life?’ with the same answer as the majority. “Nothing.”

social environmentWe enjoy the redwoods, walking on the beach

and bonfires with our family. We join in the wide-

spread appreciation for the scenery and outdoors

of Santa Cruz County. It’s a beautiful place to live

and raise a family.

What Tops the List of Attractions

Stephanie Bluford and son Adashi Bealum

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1st (bottom) Row (L-R) Celia Organista Carmen Arriaga-Kumasaka Garret Neier Donica Ericsson Betsy Clark

3rd Row (L-R) Monica DaCosta Araceli Castillo Steve Pleich Vicki Assegued Michelle Whiting

4th (top) Row (L-R) Michael Harms Lloyd Williams John Ricker Danny Keith Andrew Castro

2rd Row (L-R) Leslie Conner Elizabeth Schilling Kathleen Howard Irene Freiberg Chris O’Halloran

Adrian Lemke

communityassessmentprojectsanta cruz county

2011Community Heroes