UNITED SERVICES AGENCY
 
A California Non-Profit
 
PROSPECTUS

USA was begun in l970 as University Services Agency and divested by its founders--Paul Lee and Herb Schmidt--in l976, when it became a worker-collective renamed Riptide. Eventually, Riptide was reorganized as Democratic Management Services and continues to operate in Santa Cruz as a nonprofit community development corporation. Before divestiture by the founders, USA had organized twenty affiliate agencies, businesses and projects under its nonprofit umbrella.

USA was re-established as United Services Agency in l992 by Paul Lee and Herb Schmidt. It is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit operating in Santa Cruz and Palo Alto. USA has developed a number of projects with the Santa Cruz branch focussing on the Ecotopia theme developed by Paul Lee in l993. Ecotopia is an economic development model aimed at the ecotourist with tourism as a central focus for the Santa Cruz economy. The motive for Ecotopia is the end to homelessness. Paul Lee has been involved in homeless programs and service delivery since l985, when he and Page Smith opened the first public shelter in Santa Cruz.

Paul Lee -- (click here for Paul Lee's CV)
Chair, Citizens Committee For the Homeless
Co-Chair, United Services Agency
March 1, l994

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