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Community Bridges has teamed up with the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, Community Foundation for Monterey County, Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc., Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, and Monarch Services to distribute economic assistance to flood-impacted families.
There will be three waves of assistance available to Pajaro families with grants starting at $500.
This local financial assistance will heavily rely on donations. To support, donate to Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, Community Foundation for Monterey County, or to Community Bridges to help Pajaro residents with their immediate needs and their long-term recovery.
Donate to Community Foundation Santa Cruz County by clicking HERE.
Donate to Community Foundation for Monterey County by clicking HERE.
Donate to support Community Bridges’ storm response by clicking HERE.
The first wave is underway and is expected to wrap up by mid-May. In this wave applicants may receive a $500 grant if:
People are now encouraged to visit La Manzana Community Resources at 521 Main Street, Suite Y in downtown Watsonville to apply in person. La Manzana is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm.
If you have been denied, but feel there has been an error, please visit La Manzana for assistance.
The second wave is began in mid-May. People who completed the Damage Assessment Form and received assistance during the first wave do NOT need to reapply to receive assistance in the second wave. Community Bridges staff will contact you to set up an appointment.
In this wave, grants will range between $1,000-2,000 and be made available as donations and government assistance allow. In this wave applicants may receive a grant if they can:
The third wave will be for extreme cases assisted by case managers through Community Bridges and Catholic Charities. This wave will begin in tandem with the second wave, as families and individuals who need additional support will be assisted by a long-term recovery group.
There is no range for grant funding as money will be distributed as needed to help with the following:
How are you distributing the economic assistance grants? We are distributing grants to people who have filled out our Damage Assessment Form. Staff from our Family Resource Collective contacts these applicants and sets up distribution appointments at La Manzana Community Resources in downtown Watsonville.
How are you prioritizing the economic assistance grants? Community Bridges is prioritizing grants for families, people living at or below 80% of the area median income, and people whose residences have sustained major damage and are yellow, orange, or red tagged, according to the County of Monterey’s Damage Assessment Map.
How much economic assistance have you distributed to Pajaro residents? Since the Pajaro River levee broke on March 11, Community Bridges has distributed more than $1.1 million in direct economic assistance as of July 20. Including the winter storms, Community Bridges has helped distribute more than $1.7 million to Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County residents.
Why not distribute the economic assistance grants door-to-door? Community Bridges does not have the capability or number of staff needed to distribute grants door-to-door. The process requires access to the Internet and Community Bridges’ internal database of applicants. In addition, during a distribution appointment, our FRC staff can also connect applicants with other local, state, and federal assistance available to Pajaro residents.
Community Bridges has received a substantial number of donations to assist the recovery in Pajaro. Where are those donations? As of May 1, Community Bridges has received more than $500,000 in donations from more than 1,600 individuals, businesses, and groups. We are now using these donations to fund our second and third wave of assistance. We have also begun to distribute some of these dollars to community groups serving Pajaro residents such as Casa De La Cultura and the Center for Farmworker Families.
Is Community Bridges taking an administrative fee from these donations? Thanks to our amazing foundation partners across the Central Coast who have committed to funding our mounting emergency response and long-term case management costs, Community Bridges can say that every dollar that has come into our Pajaro Valley Flood Relief fund will be used for direct assistance to Pajaro residents. We hope to announce key foundation partners in the coming weeks.
How can we remain informed about the donations that are being made to Community Bridges? We are providing recurring updates on donations via our social media and regular updates via our newsletter. Follow or like us on Facebook or sign up for our newsletter for continued updates.
How can we make suggestions about how and where your donations can be spent and used? You can contact Community Bridges with suggestions via email at info@cbridges.org.
Community Bridges in partnership with Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey have teamed up to open a satellite resource center in Pájaro to assist and ensure that we continue to provide direct client disaster services for families recovering from the devastating Pájaro Valley floods.
The 580-square-foot office at 14 Porter Drive will fulfill the functions of the Long-Term Case Management work needed to help the dozens of Pájaro families who are unable to return home or find new, habitable housing because of the spring storms.
Family Resource Collective staff will be on site every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am to 4:30pm (closed for lunch between noon and 1pm) to support the diligent work of our partner organizations assisting in the recovery and help Pájaro families access assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and state, county, and local programs.
For more information, click HERE.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency offered assistance for families impacted by the March 11 flood. The deadline to apply for individual assistance was extended to Sept. 1. People who need help with their applications or appeals can visit:
In-person
Pajaro Park: 24 San Juan Road, Pajaro. Open Monday through Saturday from 9am-7pm
La Manzana: 521 Main Street, Suite Y, Watsonville. Open Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm
Santa Cruz County Building: 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. Open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm
Online: disasterassistance.gov
Phone: 800-621-3362
FEMA Individual and Household Assistance may include:
In response to the series of storms across California in December 2022 through April 2023, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is providing state-funded storm recovery services to provide disaster relief case management and direct assistance to eligible individuals who experienced hardship from the storms and cannot access federal assistance due to immigration status.
Direct assistance payments will be provided for the purpose of helping storm-impacted individuals and households cover certain necessary costs including housing, food, and transportation costs.
Qualifying adults will receive $1,500 and children (under 18 years old) will receive $500, with a maximum of $4,500 per household. A household is defined as individuals who live and purchase and prepare meals together.
Storm recovery services are available in California counties where the President has issued a Major Disaster Declaration and approved Individual Assistance (IA) in those counties because of the impact of the storms.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz, and Ventures will implement the program in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
For more information about the program, click HERE.
The Board of Supervisors approved a $728,000 disaster relief program for low-income Monterey County residents who were displaced by flooding or live in flood zones evacuated during this year’s storms. Community Bridges, Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey, and Door to Hope distributed the first round of grants.
The second round of grants are still being coordinated through the County of Monterey. Please check back for more information in the coming days.
The State of California now says your tap water is safe to drink.
For more information call:
Water Utility contact: Judy Varela, 831-722-1389
State Water Resources Control Board, Monterey District: 831-655-6939
Monterey County Health Department: 831-755-4505
Click the links below
STORM & FLOOD RECOVERY
California Storm Assistance for Immigrants
Insurance Information Webinars
Local Financial Assistance (Pajaro)
STAY PREPARED
Emergency Alerts (Santa Cruz County)
Track Your Evacuation Zone (Santa Cruz County)
CZU FIRE RECOVERY
Santa Cruz County Fire Recovery Resources
Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group CZU Rebuild Guide
Santa Cruz County Post-Fire Watershed Recovery Guide
President Biden authorized a major disaster declaration for Santa Cruz County on Jan. 14. The declaration is meant to assist local governments, nonprofits, families, and individuals in recovering from the recent winter storms through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and Small Business Administration loans.
This may include financial assistance for cleanup and sanitation, repairs, and other services for eligible agencies and households. Additional resources, including referral lists and legal aid, may be available.
The deadline to submit FEMA applications was March 16.
Community Bridges is providing cleanup tools and resources at our Family Resource Collective (FRC) locations to help our community recover from the devastating storms, floods and mudslides produced by the recent unprecedented winter storms.
Community members can rent cleanup items such as air movers, dehumidifiers, wet/dry vacs, carpet cleaners, push brooms, and pressure washers, at no cost. Other single-use cleanup items, such as contractor bags, gloves, sponges, and disinfectant are also available for the community through generous support of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, American Red Cross and Home Depot Foundation grants.
These items are available at the following FRCs (We ask that you call ahead and check for availability):
La Manzana Community Resources – 521 Main Street, Ste. Y, Watsonville | 831-724-2997
Live Oak Community Resources – 1740 17th Ave., Santa Cruz | 831-476-7284
Mountain Community Resources – 6134 Highway 9, Felton | 831-335-6600
To rent the equipment, simply complete a damage assessment form and liability release form at one of our FRC locations. Equipment is due and will need to be returned no more than of one week after check out or any time before then. We would like to give as many people as possible the opportunity to utilize the equipment.
Community Bridges purchased the majority of the cleanup items available for rent and disbursement through the use of strategic agency reserves. In an effort to expand the program, we are asking the community to donate lightly used tools and new single-use items for the cleanup effort.
Donations can be dropped off at any of our participating FRC locations.
Community Bridges Family Resource Centers provide resource referral & coordination, financial assistance and public benefit enrollment. Please call or visit any of the locations listed below.
Felton: Mountain Community Resources, 6134 Highway 9
Monday and Thursday: 9am to 12:30pm, 1pm to 4:30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am to 12pm (by appointment 1-5pm)
Phone (831) 335-6600
Watsonville: La Manzana Community Resources, 521 Main St., Suite Y
Monday-Friday, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 4:30pm
(831) 724-2997
Live Oak: Live Oak Community Resources, 1740 17th Ave.
Monday-Thursday, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 5pm
(831) 476-7284
Santa Cruz: Nueva Vista Community Resources, 711 East Cliff Dr.
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 5pm (Closed Thursdays)
Phone (831) 423-5741
Through participation in the Santa Cruz County Long Term Recovery Group, Community Bridges and Catholic Charities provide Disaster Case Manager support for families in need of assistance as they navigate the rebuilding process following the CZU August 2020 Lightning Fire.
Disaster Case Managers provide one-on-one support to achieve effective communication with the Recovery Permit Center and connect families with resources, including funding through the Unmet Needs Committee for families that are experiencing rebuild funding gaps.
To connect with a Disaster Case Manager, please email CZUFireHelp@gmail.com or call 831-920-4764.
To support frontline fire recovery services in your community, please visit:
Santa Cruz Community Foundation Fire Relief Fund
Community Bridges is providing direct financial assistance, including grocery gift cards, to families impacted by the fire.
Click to view Emergency Updates on Twitter by Puentes_SC.
519 Main Street
Watsonville, California 95076
Phone: 831-688-8840
Fax: 831-688-8302
Email: info@cbridges.org
Community Bridges is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
Federal Tax ID number: 94-2460211
