The Human Services Department's Latest News Archives

Six-Month Report on Santa Cruz County’s Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz Framework

On August 22, 2023, the Human Services Department presented its regular 6-month update to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on the Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz strategic framework. You can watch this August 22, 2023 presentation to the Board of Supervisors to hear specifics updates and learn about our strategic achievement from our Housing for Health Director, Dr. Robert Ratner.

• Read the full Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz Six Month Update Report, January to June 2023, by CLICKING HERE
• Access the Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz Strategic Framework for Addressing Homelessness in Santa Cruz County
• Check out the new public-facing Housing & Homelessness Dashboard, and read about it in this October 5, 2023 Press Release

NEW! Retroactive CalFresh Replacements for Stolen Benefits!

If your CalFresh benefits were stolen on or after 10/1/2022, you may be eligible for retroactive benefit replacements! CalFresh recipients who were victims of electronic theft between October 1, 2022 through November 30, 2023 must complete a Report of Electronic Theft Form (EBT 2259) by February 29, 2024 to be eligible to receive retroactive benefit replacements. Cardholders may be eligible to receive retroactive replacements for any of the following reasons:

• The cardholder did not file an EBT 2259 form,
• An EBT 2259 was previously submitted and denied for not meeting reporting requirements, or
• The cardholder was previously provided with only one month’s worth of benefit replacements but had lost more than that amount.

Santa Cruz County Earns AARP Age-Friendly Designation

In line with state and local efforts to develop a statewide Master Plan for Aging, the County of Santa Cruz has been designated an “Age-Friendly Community” by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

• Watch this August 8, 2023 presentation to the Board of Supervisors to hear specifics about this collaborative achievement from our Adult & Long Term Care Director, Alicia Morales
• Read the County's Age-Friendly designation press release to learn more
• Email us at sccmpa@santacruzcounty.us to learn more about the local Master Plan for Aging efforts
• KSBW Action News 8 reports on our new Age-Friendly Communities designation!

“The safety net for older adults and people with disabilities is a blending of county administered programs, health care services, city services, and non-profit programs which together provide a network of essential services. while the safety net needs to be strengthened as we prepare locally to meet our aging community’s needs, significant expansion and investment has already been made locally and at the state level.” - Randy Morris, Human Services Director

Create Your BenefitsCal Account!

Access to MyBenefitsCalWIN ended July 3, 2023. All applicants and benefits recipients can now create a new BenefitsCal account:

• Go to www.benefitscal.com to apply for, view or renew benefits for health coverage, food & cash assistance.
• Select “log in.”
• Create a new account (you’ll need an email address).
• Link your account if you have an existing case.

Learn more here: 

Medi-Cal Renewals are Back!

Medi-Cal renewals are back! Do not lose your benefits, be on the lookout for your Medi-Cal renewal inside a yellow envelope in the mail. Ask a Benefits Representative when your renewal is due next time you call the County at 1-888-421-8080, or when you visit at 1020 Emeline Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or 500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076.

Medi-Cal Renewals Flyer (PDF, 724 KB)