79
Nationally, 552,830 people were homeless on
a given night in the United States in January
2018.
28
Of that number, 33% were people in families, and 67% were individuals.
29
The State of
California had the highest rate of persons experiencing homelessness in unsheltered situations,
with a rate of nearly 70% of the total homeless
population.
30
Locally, Santa Cruz County has one
of the largest concentrations of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered situations
(78%).
31
That said, the number of homeless people in
Santa Cruz County has fallen from a high of
3,789 in 2007 to 2,167 in 2019. However,
homelessness is difficult to eradicate because
many live under the radar, some prefer living this
way, others have complex situations that may
include physical and mental health issues, and
other factors.
Solving these issues requires creative
approaches. So, Santa Cruz County has instituted the Youth Homeless Demonstration
Project with a grant from the federal government. This program targets the estimated 600
unaccompanied homeless youth, offering a
drop-in center, host homes, rapid rehousing, a
program for disabled youth or those with complex problems, and other programs—including
those intended to prevent youth from becoming
homeless.
Civic engagement refers to individual and collective actions designed to identify and address
issues of public concern.
32
Studies show that volunteers become emotionally connected to the
28 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
29 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
30 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
31 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
32 American
Psychological
Association.
Civic
Engagement. Accessed September 2016 from http://www.
apa.org/education/undergrad/civic-engagement.aspx
communities they serve, and they sustain community involvement after volunteering.
33
Overall survey respondents reported in 2019
that they had participated at lower levels in various civic engagement activities in the last
12 months than during the previous 2017 survey year, including voting, attending public
meetings, and communication with a local politician. How do we re-engage those people? The
positive result would be a more equitable connection with their local neighborhoods and
communities.
Four SDGs—Peace, Justice, and Strong
Institutions; Climate Action; Life Below the
Water; and Life on Land—were aligned to the
Neighborhood and Built Environment SDOH
and its accompanying goals:
Public Safety
• Goal 1: By 2020, the juvenile crime rate will
be reduced by 10% through the use of culturally responsive evidence-based strategies that
promote positive interaction and reduce conflict with public safety officials.
• Goal 2: By 2020, there will be a 20% reduction in youth reporting gang involvement,
resulting in a 10% reduction of gang- related
criminal activity.
• Goal 3: By 2020, there will be a 10% decrease
in arrests or citations of individuals with
chronic SUD/COD through the increase of
on-demand treatment for adults with such
disorders.
• Goal 4: By 2020, the violent crime rate of 18to 25-year-olds will be reduced by 10%
through the use of targeted gang involvement
intervention strategies, including restorative
33 Gergen, Christopher. (2012, April 17). The Benefits of
Civic Engagement for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Accessed
September 2016 from https://www.whitehouse.gov/
b l o g / 2 0 1 2 / 0 4 / 1 7 / b e n e fi t s - c iv i c - e n g a g e m e n t -
tomorrows-leaders
6 How Local Communities Can Align with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: A Santa Cruz…
Nationally, 552,830 people were homeless on
a given night in the United States in January
2018.
28
Of that number, 33% were people in families, and 67% were individuals.
29
The State of
California had the highest rate of persons experiencing homelessness in unsheltered situations,
with a rate of nearly 70% of the total homeless
population.
30
Locally, Santa Cruz County has one
of the largest concentrations of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered situations
(78%).
31
That said, the number of homeless people in
Santa Cruz County has fallen from a high of
3,789 in 2007 to 2,167 in 2019. However,
homelessness is difficult to eradicate because
many live under the radar, some prefer living this
way, others have complex situations that may
include physical and mental health issues, and
other factors.
Solving these issues requires creative
approaches. So, Santa Cruz County has instituted the Youth Homeless Demonstration
Project with a grant from the federal government. This program targets the estimated 600
unaccompanied homeless youth, offering a
drop-in center, host homes, rapid rehousing, a
program for disabled youth or those with complex problems, and other programs—including
those intended to prevent youth from becoming
homeless.
Civic engagement refers to individual and collective actions designed to identify and address
issues of public concern.
32
Studies show that volunteers become emotionally connected to the
28 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
29 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
30 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
31 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (2019). The 2018 Annual Homeless
Assessment Report to Congress.
32 American
Psychological
Association.
Civic
Engagement. Accessed September 2016 from http://www.
apa.org/education/undergrad/civic-engagement.aspx
communities they serve, and they sustain community involvement after volunteering.
33
Overall survey respondents reported in 2019
that they had participated at lower levels in various civic engagement activities in the last
12 months than during the previous 2017 survey year, including voting, attending public
meetings, and communication with a local politician. How do we re-engage those people? The
positive result would be a more equitable connection with their local neighborhoods and
communities.
Four SDGs—Peace, Justice, and Strong
Institutions; Climate Action; Life Below the
Water; and Life on Land—were aligned to the
Neighborhood and Built Environment SDOH
and its accompanying goals:
Public Safety
• Goal 1: By 2020, the juvenile crime rate will
be reduced by 10% through the use of culturally responsive evidence-based strategies that
promote positive interaction and reduce conflict with public safety officials.
• Goal 2: By 2020, there will be a 20% reduction in youth reporting gang involvement,
resulting in a 10% reduction of gang- related
criminal activity.
• Goal 3: By 2020, there will be a 10% decrease
in arrests or citations of individuals with
chronic SUD/COD through the increase of
on-demand treatment for adults with such
disorders.
• Goal 4: By 2020, the violent crime rate of 18to 25-year-olds will be reduced by 10%
through the use of targeted gang involvement
intervention strategies, including restorative
33 Gergen, Christopher. (2012, April 17). The Benefits of
Civic Engagement for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Accessed
September 2016 from https://www.whitehouse.gov/
b l o g / 2 0 1 2 / 0 4 / 1 7 / b e n e fi t s - c iv i c - e n g a g e m e n t -
tomorrows-leaders
6 How Local Communities Can Align with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: A Santa Cruz…