Residents living on Coral Street share about their experiences since Day Services were ended in April by Housing Matters. Since then, Housing Matters has opened a transitional housing program with 20 beds. Santa Cruz Local spoke to people at both sites on July 28. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

SANTA CRUZ >> On a recent Tuesday afternoon in July, Santa Cruz Local went to Coral Street to hear from people after Housing Matters closed its Day Services program. The nonprofit organization ended the program on April 1, which served dozens of homeless residents on any given day. Now, people there shared they’re still struggling and feel forgotten by local leaders.

Housing Matters said they ended the Day Services program to redirect the nonprofit’s efforts toward temporary shelters and permanent supportive housing. Santa Cruz County had an estimated 1,473 homeless residents in 2025, according to that year’s point-in-time count.

In an effort to focus on more permanent housing solutions, Housing Matters sees Live Oak Landing as one of those solutions. After repeated delays, the referral-based interim housing program opened in July and offers 20 beds. People can stay up to six months, with the end goal being they move into a more permanent housing environment. It’s part of the Encampment Resolution Program to support people transitioning off the streets into more permanent housing. The waitlist to move into Live Oak Landing is referral-based only.

Since the program’s closure, people on Coral Street said they haven’t had daily access to running water, electricity or other hygiene products for almost six months. Many who spoke to Santa Cruz Local said they weren’t aware that Housing Matters opened Live Oak Landing this month.

Homeless people living on Coral Street have not had regular access to basic services since the closure of the Day Services program in April, operated by nonprofit Housing Matters. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Nebosia Freeman, 60, has been living on Coral Street for four years and has been homeless for close to 15 years. He said they deal with near-daily harassment and are asked to move at least twice a week, with nowhere else to go. He, like others on Coral Street, said he hasn’t heard of Live Oak Landing nor has he been refereed to a transitional housing program.

“Being homeless has put us in a situation where things just are set up to get worse,” Freeman said. “We’re trying to be homeless and do it with a little dignity, but we got to deal with the police, and we also have to deal with the fact that we have no hygiene, no facility, no access to maintaining hygiene, which I would think is a concern, due to the fact that there’s no public restrooms.”

Chaka Khan, 60, has been living on Coral Street for more than a decade and said he hasn’t yet gotten help to find a pathway to more permanent housing. Before ending up on the streets, he said he worked at the Tannery for 11 years.

Khan said despite the efforts by city and county leaders, it’s not enough.

“Homelessness doesn’t discriminate. They take all comers. You know, I wasn’t born homeless. I’ve worked in this town,” Khan said. “I’ve got skills, but once you get down in the toilet, you can’t get up. It’s really hard.”

The city and county provided Coral Street residents a list of nearby parks and beaches with bathrooms, but Freeman and Khan said they aren’t able to travel to those locations everyday.

Chaka Khan has been homeless in Santa Cruz for 10 years, predominantly living on Coral Street. He said local leaders are not doing enough to address the problem. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Felicia Lightfoot was living on Coral Street for a little over a year before getting an opportunity to join the waitlist at Live Oak Landing. She moved in less than two weeks ago. For Lightfoot, just having access to electricity, a shower and hot running water to wash her hands has been the best thing about moving into the facility.

”I was on the waiting list for like ever, but they hadn’t even finished the place yet,” Lightfoot said. “And I talked to the main director, and we texted back and forth. He said, ‘You know, Felicia, as soon as it opens, you’re first on the list.’ I was in the hospital nine times in one year because of living on Coral Street.”

Felicia Lightfoot was given a bed at Live Oak Landing, a transitional housing program operated by Housing Matters in collaboration with the city and county. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Despite Lightfoot getting access to a bed, people still living on Coral Street said they are struggling more than ever. For Khan, he is hoping elected officials and other leaders working on the issue of homelessness don’t forget about them.

“I’m not looking for a handout, but I don’t need to be starting over every week. Doesn’t matter how I’m homeless. How do I get un-homeless?” Khan said.

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