One Boulder Creek family is trying to tackle the county’s homelessness issue by providing what they can to a person who needs it most.
Michael and Ashley Brock have been living in Boulder Creek for a little less than two years. Michael, who works full-time as chief strategy officer, met 45-year-old Andrew as he was working at a homeless garden project in Santa Cruz.
According to Michael, when he asked Andrew where he lived, he avoided the question, until finally pointing to a van nearby. Sitting in the passenger seat, was Andrew’s five-year-old daughter, Meredith.
“I knew instantly I had to do something,” Michael said.
Andrew and his daughter moved in with the Brock family in late 2017 and the idea to build an affordable dwelling unit (ADU) or Tiny Home, as it’s sometimes to referred to, started immediately.
“There are lot of misnomers around homelessness,” Michael said. “When in reality, we are all one step away from homelessness if we lose our job or our ability to work. A lot of the time we do not see the working poor who need a home.”
According to Michael, it was a challenge for Andrew, a single father, to find housing services for him and his daughter. On the Brock’s property, there was a space where land was cleared to allow a permitted RV to rest. Inside the ADU or Tiny Home, is a bedroom, a washing machine and dryer, bathroom and its equipped with electricity. Over the weekend, neighbors and friends helped build a patio for Andrew and his daughter to use.
“We have to become clever and innovative on how to provide housing opportunities for everyone,” said Michael. The Brock family helped decorate the home and make it something pleasing for Andrew and Meredith to live in. “If we can give them stuff that we ourselves would live in or use, we might not marginalize this population so much.”
Michael is hopeful once Andrew gets emotionally, physically and mentally better he will be ready to start work, preferably at a job in Boulder Creek. Additionally, the Brock family is working on getting Meredith into a good school.
“A house is just the start,” Michael said. “Now they need a community.”
Michael emphasized the project came together with the generosity and work of various people and organizations. He wanted to personally thank: A Maintenance Handy Man Service, Dans Tractor Service, Dee and Jerry Colbert, Pearl Alexander, Karen Swartz, Madelynn Tershy, Tom’s Well Service, Twin Lakes Church, Weinberg Family, Scarborough Boulder Creek, Home Depot Campbell, Felton Quarry, Eco Church, Kaestner Family, John Kim and Friends, All Good’s Hauling, Taylor Family, Hagan Family, Cupertino Tile, Jonathan and Micah, Standridge Family, Amanda Jones, TBC and Lyle the Electrician
