About.

The Association of Faith Communities (AFC) is an incorporated  association of local faith communities in  Santa Cruz County  banding together to alleviate suffering through interfaith action.

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Interfaith action to end homelessness.

Faith communities have a vital role to play in ending homelessness. In addition to physical resources, like buildings, meals and financial support, they offer community, relationship, and access to housing and job networks. Bringing these resources together means we can make a tremendous impact (some of the highest housing rates in the area) while being extremely cost effective (the most affordable programs in the area).

While we take pride in our stats, the hallmark of AFC’s work has always been community. We believe every person thrives in supportive relationships. The heart of our work is bridging the gap between volunteers and participants so that all find belonging and a meaningful life of their choosing. From the first meal at Calvary Episcopal to the thousands that have been served since, AFC has brought together people from vastly different backgrounds to eat, listen, and experience change together. 
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Our founding principles.

We see that every faith, regardless of form, has as a core value of helping those who are suffering due to injustice, poverty, homelessness. We bring together those faith communities of our county in their myriad forms, whether Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant, non-denominational, Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, or communities of other faiths, to offer shelter, community and support to those experiencing homelessness. AFC does not require shelter and safe parking participants to participate in any religious or spiritual programming and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, immigration status, age, disability, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity). ​

How we work.

*Member faith communities send a representative to the AFC's Board of Directors.  The Board is responsible for program development and monitoring, staff supervision, fundraising and working with local governments and other service providers to improve the living realities of those we serve.  We do this with the understanding that all are worthy of love and respect and from each is due the same.

The following communities have given an organizational commitment to the AFC by appointing members to our Board of Directors (*) or offering their labor or facilities:


All Saints' Episcopal Church/Iglesia Episcopal Cristo Rey
Calvary Episcopal Church*
Center for Spiritual Living
Chadeish Yameinu Jewish Renewal*
Christ Lutheran Church
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints*
Community Covenant Church of Scotts Valley
Congregational Church of Soquel*
Faith Community Church
Holy Cross Catholic Church*
La Selva Community Church
Lutheran Community Church
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church
Peace United Church*
Quaker Meeting House
Regeneration Church
Resurrection Catholic Church*
San Agustin Catholic Church
Santa Cruz Church of Christ
Santa Cruz Bible Church
Shrine of St. Joseph
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church*
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church*
The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
Trinity Presbyterian Church*
Twin Lakes Church
Unitarian Universalist Church
United Methodist Church of Aptos
United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz*
United Methodist Church of Watsonville
Watsonville Church of the Nazarene
Westview Presbyterian Church
*Board Members

View Our 23-24 Annual Report