AFCSC - Association of Faith Communities of Santa Cruz

Our work, by the numbers...

Welcome to the Association

of Faith Communities

AFC is an interfaith coalition made up of nearly 40 faith communities working to alleviate suffering for those experiencing homelessness through four programs. Over fifty people receive shelter or safe parking each evening, and more than two hundred volunteers offer their time, cooking skills, a listening ear each year through our programs.

SafeSpaces

Our SafeSpaces program allows folks who are living out of their vehicles a safe place to park with access to sanitary facilities and other amenities. We also offer program staff to help plan their next steps to better housing. Currently, we have around 70 people working to improve their lives while safely parking on faith community sites.
North County, contact Christopher Munroe at 831.753.8555
South County, contact Cristina Gomez-Hernandez at 408.256.3493

Faith Community Shelter

Since 2012, the AFC has been sponsoring a nightly transitional shelter for 15 participants at faith communities from Santa Cruz to Aptos. We rotate daily from site to site, with a home cooked meal provided by our wonderful volunteer cooks each evening.

Contact Courtney Barrett at 831.200.3996.

Mobile Showers

Our trailer moves to where unhoused residents congregate at shelters and camps. 160 people a week are given the dignity of a hot shower. Showers are currently available Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30a-3:30p at Westview Presbyterian (118 1st St, Watsonville).

SPIN
People need socks. Folks living outside go through them fast. SPIN has distributed thousands of socks at area shelters and food pantries.

Get Involved

Every person and faith community is invited to join the AFC. Come offer your resources to our neighbors without housing. Along the way, we find a deeper understanding that we are all worthy of dignity and connection. AFC needs cooks, mentors, supply collectors, fundraisers; caring people to assist those without homes to a better life.