SantaCruzWire.com

SANTA CRUZ (April, 2009) -- Maybe you have a family member who found support and guidance through her battle with cancer at WomenCare. Perhaps your aging neighbors enjoy food delivery from the Grey Bears. You might have a colleague who comes to work each morning knowing that her children are safe and happy at the Emeline Childcare Center. In fact, almost every resident of Santa Cruz County has a neighbor, friend or family member who has been helped by a local, nonprofit, health and human service agency. But most of them have never heard of the Human Care Alliance.

“The Human Care Alliance is the best kept secret in social services in Santa Cruz,” says Board President Rick Zinman. “We are a group of nonprofit organizations that have come together to speak with a single voice and try to help each other.”

The HCA began in the mid-1980s in response to cuts in federal funding that had previously been funneled to state and local jurisdictions for distribution. Area nonprofits had to find a way to replace that federal money with funds from local cities and counties. But they were competing with county departments, not to mention each other, for limited dollars.

“Leaders in the nonprofit community came together to create a noncompetitive situation between their agencies,” Zinman explains. “Now, when we approach the cities (Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville) or the county (Santa Cruz County), all the agencies make the same funding request, say cost of living plus 3%. We work with the funding organizations to make that number happen. Then we leverage that funding, so for every dollar that comes in locally, we get four or five dollars from other sources.”

The 60 current Alliance organizations work together to provide much-needed services in an efficient, cost-effective manner. They collaborate on professional development training, write joint grants, make client referrals, and share information and expertise. The Alliance also works to educate the community about the importance of their critical programs.

“All of our agencies have a mission to serve the greater good of the community,” says Jorge Mendez of Front Street Inc., which provides housing opportunities and supportive services for adults with mental illness. Other member organizations include the Cabrillo Stroke Center, Hospice Caring Project, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center.

“Food resources, housing support, senior services…These are services the private sector doesn’t want to provide, because how do you squeeze profit out of helping people in need?” Mendez asks. “Individuals and their families are really feeling the pinch right now and reaching out for help to make ends meet, provide food for their children and stay in their homes. But we can’t do it alone.”

“There are a million ways that these nonprofits relieve the financial burden off counties and cities,” says Allison Titley of WomenCare. “It’s important for the public to understand the value of funding us.”

 “This is about being more efficient and making the best use of scarce dollars,” Zinman agrees. “Because we know that the demand for social services goes up, not down, during a recession.”

With state funding cuts looming, Alliance members will share the pain, working to ensure that cuts are proportionate across the board, while still maintaining a critical safety net for those in need.

 “The common thread between these agencies is we know we are our brothers’ keeper,” Mendez concludes. “As a society, we have to keep that commitment.”

For more information about the Human Care Alliance, including a complete list of member organizations, visit www.humancarealliance.org.