Housing Matters invites the community to attend a screening and panel discussion with the filmmakers of Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.
The event, in collaboration with the City of Santa Cruz Economic Development Department, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, and former mayor and Housing Matters board member Don Lane, aims to encourage community-wide-conversation about creating a comprehensive solution to homelessness.
Beyond the Bridge is a documentary about solutions to homelessness. A Bigger Vision Films team traveled more than 40,000 miles around the U.S. to answer this question: How can this country solve homelessness in a comprehensive way? Filmmakers found a solution that surprised them with its straightforward but simple approach from two large cities that proved solving homelessness is within reach of any community.
Their answer was: A single homelessness response systems plan based on the principles of Housing First with community buy-in from law enforcement, judicial systems, business communities, service providers, volunteers, and leadership from the mayor and county executives, all working from the same page.
“[This film] is not only about people who are homeless themselves, but about how every member of the community can get involved in solving this issue,” said Sam Tsemberis, father of Housing First and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most Influential People of 2024. “It’s something you should see.”
Mer Stafford, chief impact officer for Housing Matters, said, “We’re excited to explore with Santa Cruz County citizens the possibilities for resolving homelessness together.”
The Beyond the Bridge team is midway through a 40-city screening tour, with the goal of changing the national discourse.
Each screening includes post-screening panels and Q&As, calls-to-action and follow-up activities for audience members, and the opportunity for community members to collectively discuss how they can begin addressing homelessness locally.
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Tickets are $12 at: www.housingmatterssc.org/event/beyond-the-bridge-a-solution-to-homelessness
TOP PHOTO: Beyond the Bridge