Watsonville tiny homes project nears completion to aid homeless community
The 19-story building will feature 278 apartments
he construction of 32 tiny homes in Watsonville is nearing completion, offering transitional housing and services for those living at or near the Pajaro River.
Maria Elena De La Garza, with Community Action Board Santa Cruz County, said, “They’ve endured flooding, they’ve endured displacement. They’ve endured sweeps. Right. And this opportunity is hopeful. Right?”
The tiny village will provide a space that is beautiful and inspiring, connecting residents to jobs, food, and health care.
“A space that’s beautiful, a space that is inspiring and can offer hope, that can offer resources and connect people to jobs and to food and to health care, then we’ve done something right. And we believe that that’s what this is going to offer,” De La Garza said.
Residents will have access to showers, a laundry room, and a communal dining area. Roxanne emphasized the village’s focus on the needs of its clients.
“Every single thing that we thought about is with the actual clients in mind. So there will be a pet run. People will be able to have their pets inside of their units. You don’t have to leave your partner because you there’s units for you to have a partner in there,” Roxanne Wilson with the Monterey County Homeless Services said.
The project highlights a community-wide partnership between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, involving nonprofits, the public sector, and the faith-based community, all working towards the goal of supporting the unhoused.
Dan Hoffman, pastor with Westview Presbyterian Church, said, “And that’s what this hope is. It’s a chance for people that are like you and me. They got on hard times to get back to their lives again and be cared for.”
The tiny village is expected to open its doors by this November.
