Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building

Board of Trustees (VBOT)

A Legacy of Service at the Heart of Santa Cruz.

Located at 846 Front Street, the Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building is more than just a landmark; it is a living tribute to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.  Managed by a dedicated Board of Trustees, our non-profit organization operates with a singular focus: to provide a mission-ready environment where Veterans can access the resources they need.

Our programs and services are designed to bridge the gap between military and civilian life.  We serve as the primary venue for many Veteran Services and local legends.  By managing this historic space, we ensure that local Veterans have a permanent, reliable location for health and wellness resources, benefit assistance, and community-building activities.  Whether you are seeking assistance or looking for a place to connect with fellow service members, our doors are open to you.

Board of Trustees

Team

Street Address: 846 Front Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060

Mailing Address: PO Box 1303, Santa Cruz CA 95061

Main Office: 831-454-0478

Click Here for the Facility Rental Application

or

Email: booking@vetshall.org with any questions.

Mission Statement: The SCCVMB is operated and maintained for the principal purpose of Veterans affairs and provision of administrative and clerical office space for County personnel employed to administer Veterans benefits programs.  The SCCVMB is also a community recreation and cultural center servicing public functions and provides rental space for numerous educational and cultural organizations and activities.

To further our mission, the SCCVMB aims to cultivate the following strategic goals:

Stewardship and Historic Preservation

Goal: Ensure the long-term integrity of the SCCVMB [and Watsonville Veterans Memorial Buildings] as registered Historical Building(s).

Action: Utilize rental revenues specifically for the “care and maintenance” of the buildings as required by the contract, ensuring that the historical status is preserved while modernizing safety features.

Elimination of Veteran Homelessness via “Veterans Village”

Goal: Scale the Veterans Village in Ben Lomond to provide permanent supportive housing.

Action: Direct administrative resources to support the transition of at-risk veterans into stable housing, complementing the organization’s broader advocacy mission.

Strengthening Veteran Advocacy and Benefit Navigation

Goal: Serve as the central hub for veteran benefit administration in the County.

Action: Fulfill the contractual requirement to provide office space for County personnel administering veteran benefits programs, while expanding our independent advocacy outreach.

Holistic Wellness and Social Reintegration 

Goal: Address PTSD and social isolation through weekly service days and peer support.

Action: Utilize the building’s designation as a “community recreation and cultural center” to host veteran-centric social events that do not interfere with benefit administration.

Sustainable Social Enterprise

Goal: Optimize facility rentals to achieve 100% reinvestment into veteran services.

Action: Manage building rentals in accordance with the “Accounts, Records, and Audits” section of the contract, ensuring all excess revenue is properly directed toward “projects or improvements” for the facility.

Emergency Preparedness and Community Resilience

Goal: Solidify the buildings’ roles as essential safety nets during regional disasters.

Action: Maintain a “ready-to-deploy” status for sheltering, ensuring we meet the contractual duty to “aid in the effective operations of a shelter” when the County declares an emergency.

Strategic Collaborative Leadership 

Goal: Lead a unified veteran support ecosystem through active stakeholder engagement.

Action: Strengthen ties with the United Veterans Council (UVC) and the County Veterans Service Officer, both of whom have designated (non-voting) seats on our Board of Trustees per the current agreement.

Your contributions will help maintain and make this facility available to veterans and offer the community a unique cultural and performing art center.  Donate today.