By Robin Reynolds
Editor’s note: The Bill Wilson Center Santa Cruz County runs a Host Home Program for youth who are homeless. The program includes a case manager. Once a youth is matched for a 3- to 6-month stay, the homeowner is eligible for a stipend of up to $1,500 per month.
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Making the leap into adulthood is difficult in its own right, but becomes nearly insurmountable if a youth is unhoused without a person to mentor them through life’s hardships.
But when a connection is made and a door is opened to a homeless youth to allow time for the knowledge and resources they need to become stable and independent – a youth has the chance to be a contributing adult in a community.
Ayanna’s homelessness came suddenly in 2021 with the death of her boyfriend Tony’s grandfather, with whom they had been living in his home. Home for the young couple, and a cat named Rusty, became their van. After six months of living out of their van and battling COVID, the winter storms proved too much for them and they found refuge on a friend’s couch for the next two months.
But a van is not a home and a couch is not a home.
The path to stability came shortly after filling out the intake forms at Housing Matters and being referred to Bill Wilson Center’s Santa Cruz Shared Housing Host Home Program. Ayanna’s boyfriend was the first to meet Bill Wilson Center’s Case Manager and Shared Housing Recruiter Valerie Arno. They were excited to find out that they could get help and stay together.
Joël with her goat
Staying together would take the pair up to a small neighborhood in Bonny Doon spared by the CZU Lightning Complex Wildfire.
After introductory meetings to ensure compatibility between the youth and the host home, Joël opened her home to Ayanna and Tony.
“When you’re coming off from living on the street, it’s really hard to be consistent to stay in school or to hold down a job,” said Joël. “But they did a great job of maximizing their resources to put them in a good spot.”
Joël has taken in youth in the past, but working with Bill Wilson Center’s program was the first time to have the support of someone like Valerie.
“It’s nice to have a team that offers resources for the kids since it’s so hard to come up with resources in Santa Cruz because Santa Cruz is so expensive,” said Joël.
“Valerie is such a kind person,” said Ayanna. “She helped me learn to prioritize what is important for myself.”
After seven months of living with Joël in Bonny Doon, Ayanna and Tony moved into an apartment near the Boardwalk that Bill Wilson Center’s case manager was able to secure for them.
Ayanna continues to staff the front desk at Well Within Spa and Tony is employed at Sockshop.
As a host, Joël provided a spare bedroom and bathroom to Ayanna and Tony that helped them to thrive and feel supported in a safe, welcoming, host home environment.
Joël sitting outside her home.
Joël was supported through the process with ongoing training and 24/7 support from BWC case managers. Hosts also are provided with monthly rental assistance (up to $1,500) for providing temporary shelter to BWC-placed youth.
Bill Wilson Center’s Santa Cruz County Shared Housing/Host Home Program continues to look for people who can provide temporary housing in a safe and welcoming environment for youth and LGBTQ/Ally young adults (ages 18-24) who are experiencing housing instability.
Hosts can be families, couples, or singles who are allies of the LGBTQ community.
Bill Wilson Center provides background checks and works to find compatible matches to place a young adult in an approved host home. Host homes can be located anywhere in Santa Cruz County.
The youth in the program are referred to the Bill Wilson Center by the county. Common causes for youth homelessness can include, but are not limited to, aging out of foster care, gender identity, sexual orientation, and family conflicts.
These youth lack stable housing arrangements and often sleep in places not meant for human habitation such as in the woods, in the bushes, on the sidewalk, and in vehicles.
If you can help or would like additional information about becoming a host, please contact Valerie Arno at varno@billwilsoncenter.org or (408) 679-8732.
“Just like in any family,” said Joël, “it’s definitely easier to have a team than to be the only one trying to run the show.”
