The presentation describes the approach Santa Cruz County’s Human Services Department (HSD) took to provide shelter and care for people experiencing homelessness PEH at the onset of COVID 19. Santa Cruz County HSD quickly built an infrastructure, from the “ground up”, to meet the need of sheltering vulnerable PEH due to COVID. This required the dedication and commitment of HSD staff, Disaster Service Workers, local governmental jurisdictions , close collaboration with the Health Services Agency and many community partners. Presenters will share what happened, what worked and lessons learned that will inform local sheltering practices in the future.

• Leslie Goodfriend – Santa Cruz County Human Services Department Senior Health Services Manager

• Deborah Bresnick, LCSW – Santa Cruz County Human Services Department Quality Improvement Manager in Planning & Evaluation

• Monica Lippi – Santa Cruz County Human Services Department Senior Human Services Analyst

• Jessica Scheiner, MPP – Santa Cruz County Human Services Department Senior Human Services Analyst