Santa Cruz County will open its severe-weather shelters for unhoused residents more often this winter. Supervisors approved the new rules on Oct. 20, the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Santa Cruz Local reported.
Under the new rule, the shelters open when the forecast low is 40°F or colder and there is an 80% or greater chance of rain for two nights in a row. Before, they opened when lows hit 38°F for two nights, during inland flood warnings or during evacuation orders.
The shelters opened on four nights last winter and 18 nights in 2024-25. In 2023, a very wet year, the old rules produced 57 activations; county staff estimated the new rules would have produced about 72.
The program is run by the nonprofit People First, led by Evan Morrison. Its budget is $325,479: at least $130,000 from the county, $140,000 from the City of Santa Cruz and the rest rolled over from last year. Running both sites costs about $7,200 a night. Morrison has budgeted for about 20 nights, roughly $287,000. A winter with 40 nights could cost more than $500,000.
Officials are also looking at moving the shelter sites, with Emeline Avenue and Westridge Drive among the options. Final recommendations are due by Nov. 17.
Forecasters expect a strong El Niño this winter, though that does not guarantee heavy rain on the Central Coast.