Building Shelter,
Building Community.
WHO WE ARE
Just Places combats houselessness and climate change by building carbon neutral homes with natural materials for unhoused people through collective building projects that support community and provide education on natural building and design. Just Places’ building strategies can be used as a low cost solution for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), tiny home communities, transitional housing, and shelter. We embrace regenerative, whole-systems design principles in an effort to help transform the overall building and housing industries to make them more environmentally sustainable and accessible for all. Just Places is partnered with People First of Santa Cruz County.
OUR VISION
To end houselessness in Santa Cruz County and contribute to repairing the climate by building carbon-neutral natural houses for people who need a home.
OUR GOALS
Build Homes
Create Community
Educate
Others
Lower Costs
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Build Naturally
LEADERSHIP TEAM
PEOPLE FIRST OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
People First of Santa Cruz County, a community-based, inclusive, and inventive 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building the next generation of homeless services in Santa Cruz County. People First is the newest homeless services agency in Santa Cruz County, providing innovative programs and supporting over 500 people a year who are living outdoors to improve their lives and end their homelessness.
MICAH POSNER
Micah Posner is a General Contractor and the principal at People's Housing, a low income housing development company. Before getting into low income housing, Posner was the director of Bike Santa Cruz County where he spearheaded the Countywide Rail and Trail project, among others. He served on the Santa Cruz City Council from 2012 to 2016.
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MICHELE LANDEGGER
Natural builder and general building contractor. President of Studio Boa/ Boa Constructor Green Building and Design (est. 1988) a design/ build company with focus on green building of new homes, remodels and ADU’s. West Coast pioneer of strawbale building, among first permitted homes in 1996 in Santa Cruz County. Designer and builder of the first prefab straw panel ADU in City of Santa Cruz 2020. Committed to small footprint, non toxic materials, reducing carbon in the built environment while building community.
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KITA WILDER GLASS
Kita is a natural builder, General contractor and owner at Buckeye Natural Builders. He has extensive experience building with earth, straw, reclaimed wood, and other reclaimed materials. Kita has taught workshops for The California Straw Building Association, Cruzin' Cob International and the Cob Cottage Company.
SARAH SCOTT
Sarah is a Santa Cruz County resident passionate about contributing to solutions to end homelessness.
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DAVID FOSTER
David Foster was an original member of Just Places and is a current mentor and collaborator. He has over 40 years of direct experience with non-profit housing development corporations in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. He served as the Executive Director of the Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay (2012 -2019), Housing and Redevelopment Planner for the City of Capitola (2005 – 2011) and as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Santa Cruz. Mr. Foster holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Master of Science degree in Community Development from University of California Davis.