Media Advisory: Community Bridges Holds Press Conference to Respond to County Cuts to Critical Services for Unhoused Individuals, Seniors, Children, and Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

FACT SHEET ON ANTICIPATED SERVICE IMPACTS

MEDIA ADVISORY: COUNCIL MEMBER SANDY BROWN AND THIRD DISTRICT CANDIDATE JUSTIN CUMMINGS JOIN COMMUNITY BRIDGES BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT COUNTY’S PROPOSED CUTS TO CRITICAL SERVICES

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PROPOSES MORE THAN $800,000 IN CUTS TO COMMUNITY BRIDGES’ FUNDING FOR SENIOR AND CHILD CARE SERVICES, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS AND FOOD FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES

Santa Cruz County, CA — Community Bridges is inviting media, community members, supporters, and participants to a press conference to learn more about the impacts to Community Bridges’ ten programs and more than 20 locations serving every community in Santa Cruz County. If adopted, these funding recommendations would remain in place through June 2025 – affecting three funding cycles.

When:               June 7, 10:30 a.m.

Where:              Community Bridges Watsonville Campus

519 S. Main St., Watsonville

Who:

Raymon Cancino, Community Bridges CEO

Justin Cummings, Santa Cruz City Councilmember and former Mayor

Sandy Brown, Santa Cruz City Councilmember

Mary McMillan, Community Bridges Board of Directors

Silvia Morales, Community Bridges Board of Directors

Clay Kemp, Seniors Council Executive Director

Paul Machlis, Food Pantry Volunteer Coordinator –

Mountain Community Resources

Bilingual staff will be available for Spanish-language publications and outlets.

What:                Santa Cruz County released its proposed CORE funding recommendations for the 22/23 fiscal year, which would result in an $816,000 funding reduction that disproportionately affects certain programs.

Impacts

  • Partial closure of all four Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and reduction in services offered and staffing (La Manzana serves – Watsonville, Nueva Vista – Santa Cruz and mid-County, Live Oak – mid-County, Mountain Community Resources – North County)
  • FRCs serve more than 6,600 members of the Santa Cruz County community across four locations. Those individuals rely on the centers for weekly or bi-weekly food distributions, regular access to tutoring and afterschool homework support, summer lunch programs, and access to personal care and benefits programs.
  • Loss of subsidized childcare slots and potential site closures across Santa Cruz County Early Education Child Care sites.
  • Significant reduction in services for seniors through Elderday impacting up to 250 clients and their families relying on the only Adult Day Health Care provider in the county providing respite care and supportive services.

ABOUT COMMUNITY BRIDGES 

Community Bridges envisions a thriving community where every person has the opportunity to unleash their full potential. Together, our family of programs delivers essential services, provides equitable access to resources, and advocates for health and dignity across every stage of life. To learn more, please visit www.communitybridges.org.

The Community Bridges family of programs includes the Child & Adult Care Food Program, Early Education Division, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), La Manzana Community Resources, Live Oak Community Resources, Mountain Community Resources, Nueva Vista Community Resources, Elderday Adult Day Health Care, Lift Line and Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County.

Thanks to your voices, Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested a Major Disaster Declaration to provide federal support for residents impacted by storms and floods. Thanks to the more than 800 concerned community members that signed our request, and the more than 200 personal comments sharing your hearts with the community Pajaro as well those who had suffered personal losses.You can continue to use your voice to urge the President to grant the governor's request to release desperately needed support to the people of Pajaro as well as across the state. Use the following updated link to show your support for federal action with President Biden, Governor Newsom and local representatives: communitybridges.salsalabs.org/pajarorecoveryaction#StrongerTogether #pajarostrong #PeoplePower ... See MoreSee Less
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A community united can never be divided.We want to acknowledge the dozens of nonprofit and community leaders who signed a letter asking that Gov. Gavin Newsom provide emergency aid to Pajaro Valley residents who have lost so much.Earlier today, the governor officially requested President Joe Biden make FEMA individual assistance available for various California counties impacted by the recent spring storms, including Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. This is excellent news, but more needs to be done.We urge the president to grant this request and for the governor to make state assistance available for Pajaro Valley residents who will not qualify for federal aid because of documentation status.You can continue to advocate for an equitable recovery for the Pajaro Valley here: bit.ly/42DWU9s ... See MoreSee Less
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El camino hacia la recuperación ha comenzado para muchas familias afectadas por las inundaciones en el Valle de Pájaro. Para algunos, esto llevará semanas. Para otros, esto llevará años.Community Bridges y sus socios comunitarios, incluida la Junta de Acción Comunitaria del Condado de Santa Cruz, Caridades Católicas, Monarch Services y Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, están aquí para ayudar.Los grupos comunitarios ya han distribuido más de $600,000 en asistencia directa a las familias de Pajaro Valley, y ahora tenemos un plan de tres olas para continuar apoyando su recuperación.Agradecemos a la Fundación Comunitaria del Condado de Santa Cruz y a la Fundación Comunitaria del Condado de Monterey por patrocinar este esfuerzo y por su continuo apoyo al Valle de Pájaro durante este momento difícil.Lea sobre el plan de recuperación de tres olas en este artículo de opinión colaborativo en el Santa Cruz Sentinel: www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/03/27/guest-commentary-pajaro-floods-community-groups-step-up /¿Necesita servicios de gestión de casos de desastres a largo plazo? Comuníquese con Recursos Comunitarios de La Manzana o Catholic Charities para obtener ayuda.La ManzanaVisita: 521 Main St., Suite Y, WatsonvilleLlame: 831-724-2997Catholic CharitiesLlame: 831-316-9122 ... See MoreSee Less
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The road to recovery has begun for many flood-impacted families in the Pajaro Valley. For some, this will take weeks. For others, this will take years. Community Bridges and its community partners, including the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc., Catholic Charities Monterey, Monarch Services - Servicios Monarca, and Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, are here to help. Community groups have already distributed more than $750,000 in direct assistance to Pajaro Valley families, and now we have a three-wave plan to continue supporting their recovery.We thank Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and Community Foundation for Monterey County for sponsoring this endeavor and for their ongoing support of the Pajaro Valley during this difficult time. Read about the three-wave recovery plan in this collaborative opinion piece in the Santa Cruz Sentinel: www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/03/27/guest-commentary-pajaro-floods-community-groups-step-up/In need of long-term disaster case management services? Reach out to La Manzana Community Resources or Catholic Charities for help.La ManzanaVisit: 521 Main St., Suite Y, Watsonville Call: 831-724-2997Catholic CharitiesCall: 831-316-9122 ... See MoreSee Less
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HAPPENING NOW: The Monterey County Board of Supervisors is discussing a temporary eviction moratorium for people impacted by the recent spring storms. The Board will resume its meeting at 10:30am. The Board's agenda and the link to watch along can be found here: monterey.legistar.com/Page.aspx?M=WCommunity Bridges is in full support of the temporary eviction moratorium. It is critical that our local leaders take steps to prevent displacement and relocation in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Pajaro Valley. ... See MoreSee Less
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