About Us

Serg brings more than 25 years of experience in social service focusing on behavioral health. He focuses on connecting with people and improving programs. He can be found in county collaborative meetings and spending time downtown with people experiencing homelessness. He shares his knowledge of programs and resources with people on the street and with case managers. He was a member of the City of Santa Cruz’s CACH (Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness), the YHDP’s (Youth Homeless Demonstration Projects’ Internal Steering Committee, and the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury. He is a member of the Coordinated Entry / Smart Path Steering Committee, the Continuum of Care / Homeless Action Partnership, and the County of Santa Cruz’s Mental Health Advisory Board.  He enjoys advocating and consulting. He created an extensive unified Resource Directory for homeless services, both online, and printable which can be found at SteppingUpSantaCruz.org.

Alethea Soares, a Santa Cruz County native, worked in accounting for multiple local produce farms including Martinelli’s, as well as working for the Pajaronian. She is also a survivor of domestic violence, has lived-experience with mental health, substance use, and homelessness, and is an advocate for people suffering from the same. She was on the City of Santa Cruz’s Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness. She was one of the original members of the Recovery Café Santa Cruz, is a student at Cabrillo College in Human Services and chose to do her internship at the Recovery Café Santa Cruz.