Puentes Para Familias
Your Gift Goes Directly to Families—Quickly and Responsibly
When families in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties lose a loved one to immigration detention, the crisis is immediate. Rent is due. Groceries run out. Children are left scared and uncertain.
Puentes Para Familias exists so the community can respond together.
This program began with $10,000 in seed funding from a local foundation that stepped forward in response to rising fear in our region. That early support helped Community Bridges build a trusted, rapid-response fund so that when families need help, they don’t have to wait.
When you give, your donation is put to work right away:
• 100% of funds support families in crisis—not overhead or unrelated programs
• Assistance is capped at $2,500 per family, ensuring help is shared fairly and reaches as many households as possible
• Funds cover only urgent, life-stabilizing needs like rent, utilities, bond, childcare, or groceries
How We Prioritize Support
Because need is urgent and resources are limited, Puentes Para Familias focuses assistance where it can make the greatest, most immediate difference. Every request is reviewed by trained Community Bridges staff using clear, consistent criteria.
We prioritize families who:
• Have children or dependent adults in the home
• Lost their primary wage earner or caregiver due to detention
• Are facing immediate housing instability, such as eviction or utility shutoff
• Do not yet have legal representation
• Have an upcoming court date within 30 days
• Are experiencing a critical financial gap where timely assistance can stabilize the household
• Live or work in Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito Counties
• Have very low income and limited assets, with priority given to the most economically vulnerable
Why You Can Give with Confidence
Community Bridges has deep roots in this community and decades of experience delivering emergency assistance with care and accountability. We track every dollar and make thoughtful decisions, so your generosity has immediate, meaningful impact.
Families don’t have time to navigate red tape. They need their community to show up.
Your donation is more than a gift. It’s stability. It’s dignity. It’s a reminder that families in our region are not alone.
Give today and help keep families whole.
About Community Bridges
Since 1977, Community Bridges has been a catalyst for a brighter future by opening doors, offering hope and providing a hand up to the people of Santa Cruz County. Each year, our family of 10 programs, across 20 different sites, meets the needs of over 20,000 local children, families and older adults. While each program is remarkable on its own, brought together, we are unstoppable.
Community Bridges is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, Federal Tax ID number 94-2460211. Community Bridges does not sell, share or trade donors’ names or personal information with any outside party. Community Bridges can assist you in correcting or removing your personal information from our secure database at any time. We can be reached at donations@cbridges.org or 831-688-8840 x205.