San Jose leaders have dealt a blow to affordable housing advocates after diverting affordable housing funds to temporarily shelter homeless residents living along city waterways. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to redirect affordable housing funds from Measure E. They also unanimously approved Mayor Matt Mahan’s June budget message, which includes proposals for...
East San Jose homeowners struggle with homeless neighbors
In the heart of East San Jose, eight cars line a popular street — some with boxes stacked on top or attached wagons — filled with the belongings of homeless people such as Francisco Pulido. The constant clashes he had with his mom and stepdad compelled him to leave home. The 37-year-old has lived in...
San Jose officials criticized amid calls for homeless services audit
Homeless advocates holding signs that said “Karen” and “Sweep Baby Sweep” disrupted two San Jose officials at a news conference calling for the city to audit its spending on homeless services. Councilmembers Bien Doan and Arjun Batra on Thursday called for an audit of how much San Jose is spending on supportive services, removing encampments,...
Los Gatos commits more funds for food, rent relief
Los Gatos seniors wait patiently to pick two food items, while eyeing tables piled with essentials such as meat and bread. Then it’s a free-for-all as roughly 70 participants load their arms and bags with groceries for the week. Janet Penney, 75 in June, sits down to chat with her friends and munch on banana...
Sunnyvale shelter gets new management, service model
A county-owned, 145-bed homeless shelter in Sunnyvale is changing operators and the community it serves. The Bill Wilson Center will become the new homeless service provider for the Sunnyvale Shelter starting in July, after receiving unanimous approval on May 21 on a potential $5 million contract from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. County...
San Jose motel residents move to other housing options
A San Jose program that put homeless people up in motels is ending, and participants aren’t thrilled with their options for where to go next. The city created the Temporary Housing Access Program in summer 2022 to provide rooms to unhoused residents enrolled in its employment program while the city was building emergency temporary housing in the parking lot of...
San Jose officials demand audit of homeless services
Spurred by a state audit that found San Jose spent more than $300 million on homelessness response, two officials want the city to conduct its own audit of how much is being spent on homeless services and programs. Councilmembers Bien Doan and Arjun Batra are hoping the information will give them a clearer picture of...
‘Where do I go?’: San Jose homeless residents living along creeks dread future
Butch Larson has been homeless for more than a decade. He’s set up camp across from Hampton Inn on Cherry Avenue near the Guadalupe River in San Jose, a spot he’s called home for three years that will be swept sooner than later. His makeshift home is a large tarp held up by sticks, his floor...
Silicon Valley nonprofit shutters homeless support group
A homeless support group in San Jose is closing down, and members are unsure about whether they will be able to continue their work. Sacred Heart Community Service shuttered its homelessness organizing committee, Survivors of the Streets (SOS), and let go of the group’s organizer, citing dwindling resources. This loss comes at a pivotal moment...
UPDATE: San Jose residents speak out against diverting affordable housing funds
In the face of the growing housing crisis, San Jose residents are urging elected officials to preserve funds for permanent affordable housing. The San Jose City Council is considering reallocating housing funds from Measure E, a property transfer tax approved by voters in 2020, to instead support and shelter homeless residents in the short term....