Housing
If you are facing housing insecurity and are in need of immediate housing, please contact our Slug Support Team.
Tenant Sanctuary
Location & Hours: Fall Hours TBD
Phone Number: (831) 200-0740
Email: For questions about appointments, contact basicnds@ucsc.edu. For questions related to tenant's rights, contact info@tenantsanctuary.org.
Tenant Sanctuary is a tenant’s rights education service located in Santa Cruz, California. Through trained tenant counselors and our staff attorney, we help tenants understand what rights they have in a given situation, as well as how to assert them. We also provide free educational events through community partners.
We answer questions about rent increases, eviction repairs and habitability, security deposits, harassment, lease provision, and any issue regarding tenant-landlord disputes.
UCSC Community Rentals
Promotes student life by actively participating in education and development and students as responsible renters and members of the local community.
- Up to date rental listings and resource information
- Tenant and landlord rental education through an online Renters Workshop
- Rental forms and resources to students, faculty, staff, and local community constituents.
Dean of Students Off-Campus Legal Consultation Program
The Student Union Assembly, in partnership with the Dean of Students and the UC Legal/ UCSC Office of Campus Counsel, is pleased to provide UCSC students with access to free legal consultation services related to off-campus, non-UCSC housing issues. Available only during the regular academic terms (Fall/Winter/Spring).
Disability Resource Center: Housing Accommodation Requests
If you have a disability that impacts your ability to live in the standard housing environment, you can request a housing accommodation to modify the existing living environment (e.g. an ADA accessible room, debunked bed, visual fire alarm, etc.).
Santa Cruz Hostel
Phone: (831) 423-8304
- Youth Hostel with private and shared rooms
- Cost varies (Reservations can be made for 7 consecutive nights, for up to 14 calendar days in a year.)
River Street Shelter
Phone: (831) 459-6644
- 32 bed shelter for men and women with free breakfast and dinner included
- Call to get on the waitlist but you need to call every two days to remain on the list
- Average stay is 30 days while staff work to connect individuals to stable housing
Housing Authority Security Deposit Program
Phone: (831) 454-9455 (Ext. 321)
- Financial assistance program for those who have secured a rental but need assistance with security deposit
Santa Cruz Tenants' Organizing Committee
Phone: (831) 471-7842 or (831) 222-0359
- Tenants' Rights Hotline where a tenant peer counselor will listen to your situation and walk you through your legal rights offered free of charge
Other Helpful Resources
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- Student Renters' Guide
- Budgeting 101
- Tenants Rights Resource List
- Sample Letters to Landlords -Tenants Together
- Tenant Legal Codes - State of California
- In the search box, type the word "tenant."
- The main California civil codes are 1941-1954. There are other important tenant codes around. For example, codes 1961-1962.7 are about identification of property owners.
- Tenant Legal Codes - County of Santa Cruz
- On the left column of this page you will see the word '"Browse" and to the right of it, the term "Advanced Search." Click on "Advanced Search" and type the word "tenant" into the search box.
- Nolo Press - Renters Rights Book, 20th edition