Smart Path to Housing and Health is Santa Cruz County’s homeless coordinated entry system. Smart Path is a project of the local Continuum of Care (CoC), the Homeless Action Partnership. The lead agency for Smart Path is the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department, Housing for Health Division.
No Wrong Door
Traditionally, individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County accessed housing assistance based on first-come first-served wait lists, individual advocacy and sometimes luck -- being in the right place at the right time. By contrast, Smart Path utilizes an assessment tool to prioritize people for subsidized housing based on medical and social vulnerability.
Assessments, which may be completed on smartphones, tablets, computers and during the COVID-19 pandemic, by phone, are entered into a shared data system known as the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). This data is protected and may be shared only with the permission of the person assessed to a limited group of partner agencies.
Referrals to housing programs are made based on program type, eligibility criteria, and participant vulnerability scores.
Standardized Assessment
The VI-SPDAT assessment tool allows homeless services providers to assess an individual's or family’s level of risk. There are different versions of the VI-SPDAT for individuals, families, and Transition Age Youth.
Participation in Smart Path
Smart Path frees agencies from the need to conduct their own eligibility assessments, maintain housing resource wait lists, and spend time making referrals.
If your organization is interested in becoming an Access Point or if you have questions on how your agency can participate in Smart Path, please contact:
Monica Lippi
Smart Path Referral Analyst
Phone: 831-454-4108
Email: smartpath@santacruzcounty.us
For questions about Smart Path committees and workgroups, please contact:
Jessica Scheiner
Smart Path Referral Analyst
Phone: 831-454-4088
Email: jessica.scheiner@santacruzcounty.us
Programs Receiving Coordinated Entry System Referrals
PSH = Permanent Supportive Housing
RRH = Rapid Rehousing
TH = Transitional Housing
County Human Services Department
- CalWORKs Housing Assistance Move-in Program (CHAMP) (RRH)
Encompass Community Services
- Housing for Health 2 (PSH)
- Housing for Health 3 (PSH)
- Grace Commons (PSH)
- Freedom Cottages (PSH)
- Casa Linda (PSH)
- Anderson House (PSH)
- New Roots (PSH)
Families in Transition
- Brommer St (TH)
- ESG Rapid Rehousing (RRH)
- HOME (RRH)
- First Step (RRH)
- Young Adults Achieving Results (RRH)
Homeless Persons Health Project
- MATCH (PSH)
- Nuevo Sol (PSH)
- Shelter Plus Care (PSH)
Housing Matters
- Page Smith Community House (TH)
- Rapid Rehousing (RRH)
- PSH Bonus (PSH)
- PSH (180/2020) (PSH)
- SSVF (RRH)
HUD-VASH
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services
- Transitional Housing for Families Annex (TH)
Veterans Resource Center
Reference and Other Materials