Homelessness has increased in one of the most expensive regions in the nation, a tell-tale sign of what could come. Santa Clara County has 10,711 homeless residents, up 8.2% from two years ago, according to preliminary results from this year’s point in time count conducted in January 2025. This has happened despite significant investments in temporary...
State could strip Silicon Valley’s homeless funding
The progress San Jose and Santa Clara County have made to reduce homelessness could be halted as the state cuts crucial funding for housing and homeless services. The California Legislature on June 13 passed a $325 billion preliminary budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and the state’s main source of homelessness funding — the Homelessness...
San Jose bans homeless people renting RVs
A new San Jose policy intended to target individuals who rent RVs to homeless residents is being extended to penalize people sleeping in their vehicles. The San Jose City Council voted 9-1 on Tuesday to approve the “vanlording” policy, as it was written last week, to ban the advertising and renting out of RVs to...
San Jose to clear Columbus Park — again
San Jose is moving forward with plans to clear large camps of homeless people and prevent them from returning. Sweeps are planned from June 16 to June 30 to clear encampments where dozens of people are living in tents along the Guadalupe River from West Taylor Street to Interstate 880. The city plans to sweep...
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San Jose restaurant to be replaced by Chick-fil-A
Neighborhood-wide efforts to save a San Jose restaurant have been quashed in favor of a new fast-food eatery. Planning Director Christopher Burton on Wednesday approved a Chick-fil-A at 255 Race St. off West San Carlos Street because the location is considered underused — despite a longstanding family restaurant operating at the site. The decision solidifies...
West Valley residents angry over hotel turning to homeless housing
More than 100 people packed the Camden Community Center Wednesday to speak against a West Valley hotel converting to temporary homes for homeless women and children. They stood against the walls when seats ran out, booed, shouted over each other and yelled at San Jose officials, “You’re our elected officials! You need to listen to...
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San Jose residents win fight to stop housing project
City officials have sided with homeowners opposed to a proposed 17-story apartment complex that would have added hundreds of homes in West San Jose. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to deny plans to construct 135 homes and 15,000 square feet of commercial retail space at 826 N. Winchester Blvd. Neighborhood residents who...
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San Jose loans housing developer $5M after political donations
City leaders are committing millions of dollars in loans to an affordable housing provider after the company’s officers donated thousands to San Jose elected officials. The San Jose City Council on June 3 unanimously approved up to $5 million in loans for the “Gateway Tower” project, a 15-story 220-apartment development between 493 S. First St....
Los Gatos group proposes new community center
A West Valley town doesn’t have a central community hub. One local group is trying to fix that. The Los Gatos Thrives Foundation, a nonprofit focused on helping older adults, recently unveiled conceptual designs of a potential new community center. The designs signal the start of plans to build a multigenerational community center in a town that’s been...
San Jose safe parking no better than street life, residents say
Heidi White entered the Santa Teresa safe parking site 19 months ago thinking it’d be her first step out of homelessness. Instead, her health has declined and housing is still a dream. White said she hardly sees her caseworker and is never informed of when a new affordable housing development is opening. Since moving there...