San Jose is looking to offset a sizable portion of its homeless shelter expenses through Medi-Cal reimbursements, but homeless service providers aren’t making full use of the opportunity. That’s about to change with help from a federal grant. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to accept and match $1.3 million from the federal Providing...
San Jose homeless residents fall through the housing cracks
As San Jose sweeps its last large homeless encampment known as “the Jungle,” some residents say the city has reneged on its promises of housing. City officials claimed they had shelter beds for all 109 residents who originally lived at the East San Jose homeless camp across from Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. Camp residents...
San Jose shelter is a stop on the way to permanent housing
A homeless shelter in San Jose is set to serve as the launching point for residents to transition to permanent housing. The Arena Hotel, which the city converted into a shelter in 2023, will serve as a temporary location for people receiving federal housing vouchers. Starting May 1, the hotel will be one of three...
San Jose starts clearing homeless camp known as ‘the Jungle’
San Jose has begun dismantling its last large homeless encampment after weeks of outreach and offers of housing. Workers on Wednesday tore down tents and makeshift homes along Coyote Creek across from Happy Hollow Park & Zoo — an area known as “the Jungle.” As the city started clearing the encampment, which had become home to...
Silicon Valley homeless nonprofit CEO is out
One of Silicon Valley’s most prolific homeless service providers is changing leadership, after reports of its mismanagement of a large South San Jose shelter led to a terminated contract. Nonprofit LifeMoves announced CEO Aubrey Merriman is transitioning out of his role in an April 8 email sent to workers. Chief Operating Officer Nick Hodges is replacing Merriman...
San Jose looks to cut homeless shelter operating costs
San Jose has doubled the number of homeless shelters it operates over the past year and a half — and with that comes staggering operational costs that will require creative cuts. The city is projecting its shelters will rack up $94 million in maintenance and operating costs in the upcoming fiscal year. This eye-popping figure...
Controversial San Jose shelter to become permanent housing
A large South San Jose homeless shelter will be converted to permanent supportive housing following complaints from neighbors over crime and safety. The City Council on March 17 approved converting 1 Branham Lane — a 168-apartment, three story complex plagued with structural and managerial issues — from temporary shelter into permanent housing. The modular housing site...
Will Matt Mahan’s solutions to homelessness work for California?
If San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan becomes California’s next governor, policy experts say some homeless solutions he has implemented in Silicon Valley’s largest city could work — but others may fall flat. Mahan has scaled up production of tiny homes, more than doubling the number of beds it operates last year to get people off...
San Jose ends homeless shelter contract amid worker drug charges
A homeless services provider has lost its contract to operate a large San Jose shelter, days after police arrested a worker who was allegedly selling drugs to residents. San Jose on Wednesday terminated its contract with nonprofit LifeMoves to run the Branham Lane temporary housing site, according to city officials. It follows the arrest and...
San Jose homeless housing site worker arrested on drug charges
A caseworker at a housing site for formerly homeless people in San Jose has been arrested for possessing drugs with an intent to sell — months after former workers repeatedly raised concerns to managers of suspected drug dealing between the caseworker and residents. Police arrested Yasmin Wright, 46, on Monday outside the Branham Lane temporary...