AFCSC - Association of Faith Communities of Santa Cruz
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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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Where we stand

Founding Principles:
We see that every faith, regardless of form, has as a core value helping those who are suffering due to injustice, poverty, homelessness.
We are committed to honor and serve the faith communities of our county in their myriad forms, whether Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant, nondenominational, Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, or communities of other faiths.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to coordinate the efforts of our members in their collective ministries to people who are living in poverty , and to assist our members in enhancing the effectiveness of our individual and collective efforts.

Our Goals:
  1. Double the Faith Community Shelter by recruiting seven new host sites. Done
  2. Establish a SafeSpace program where those living out of their vehicles can park long term. Done.  12 sites, 35 spaces. 
  3. Work to establish a year round shelter and resource center.  Work barely begun.
  4. Identifying and attracting new financial and other resources to fund existing and new services.   We have tripled the number we serve as we tripled our financial support.  But future local government funding past this summer is not assured
  5. Coordinating our efforts with others that provide service to those living outside, and to affect public policy affecting this population.  Working on multiple fronts to affect policy and public perception of the unhoused. 

We are planning for the next few years, first through the Leadership Council and then our Board looking forward to the next few years with new goals that honor God's call  and those we serve.

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.  This we do in God's name 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:


Cadeish Yameinu*
Calvary Episcopal* 
Community Covenant Church of Scotts Valley
Congregational Church of Soquel
Faith Community Church
Insight Santa Cruz*
La Selva Community 
Mount Calvary Lutheran
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic
Peace United*
Quakers
Regeneration
Resurrection Catholic
Santa Cruz Church of Christ
Shrine of St. Joseph
St. Andrew's Presbyterian
St. Augustine Catholic
St. Elias Greek Orthodox 
St. John's Episcopal*
St. Phillips Episcopal 
St. Joseph's Catholic

Trinity Presbyterian*
Twin Lakes 
Unitarian Universalist
United Methodist of Aptos
United Methodist of Santa Cruz*
 
Activists within and around the AFC meet the first Thursday of each month at Calvary Church 5:00 pm as a Leadership Council (suspended during Shelter in Place) and with any one interested in serving the homeless.  There we share our work, listen to others working on behalf of the poor or homeless and share stories.  Come and share yours. 

Both the Faith Community Shelter and the SafeSpaces programs are significantly funded by State HEAP grant funds administered by the County of Santa Cruz.  Information on assistance and employment opportunities may be found at Santa Cruz County Government (www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us), and Workforce Santa Cruz County (www.workforcescc.com) web sites.

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Resource Directory
    • Shelter
    • SPIN
    • SafeSpaces Program
    • Year-round Shelter
  • Contact
  • Give