San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan hosted several gubernatorial candidates at a tiny home site Friday, in the hopes of showcasing the city’s approach to slash homelessness through building temporary housing — and to get their buy in. During a tour of the city’s newest tiny home village at Cherry Avenue, Mahan said he’s looking for...
Santa Clara County sues over federal housing grant changes
Santa Clara County and a coalition of 10 other local governments and nonprofits are filing a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration for upending federal grants for permanent housing. The lawsuit, filed Monday, alleges changes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made to federal Continuum of Care grants are unlawful and...
San Jose homeless motel residents must move or face eviction
Homeless residents who moved from San Jose’s largest encampment into shelters earlier this year are being asked to move again — or end up back on the streets. San Jose moved hundreds of people living at Columbus Park into five motels converted to homeless shelters when it swept the park this summer. Now they’re being...
Silicon Valley lawmakers speak out against homeless housing cuts
Santa Clara County leaders have gathered to denounce President Donald Trump’s actions to cut funding for permanent housing programs. Congressmembers Sam Liccardo and Zoe Lofgren and others are calling for a reversal of these cuts, which would cap federal funds for permanent housing at 30% and shift the rest to temporary housing programs. The county...
San Jose safe parking site finds housing for homeless residents
In a short time, one homeless services provider operating a safe parking site has connected dozens of unhoused people to housing. In the eight months since the Berryessa safe parking site opened, nonprofit WeHOPE has moved 24 people into permanent housing and 11 people into temporary housing. That’s compared to the 15 residents moved from the Santa Teresa VTA light...
Santa Clara County to lose millions in funding for permanent housing
Santa Clara County is scrambling to figure out how to make up for millions of dollars lost in federal housing funds due to a shift in President Donald Trump’s priorities. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plans to move Continuum of Care grants from funding rental subsidies and permanent housing programs to transitional housing....
San Jose opens tiny home village on Valley Water land
A long-awaited San Jose tiny home village built on land owned by the region’s largest water supplier has opened — giving 136 homeless people a roof over their heads. The tiny homes on Cherry Avenue cost $18.3 million to build and include central laundry, private bathrooms and an outdoor picnic area. Nonprofit HomeFirst will provide...
Salvation Army to add San Jose tiny home village for sober living
Come next summer, San Jose will open dozens of more beds for homeless people who want to stay in a sober living environment. The Salvation Army on Nov. 3 broke ground on a tiny home village called HOPE Community, which will add 74 beds on its property. Each tiny home could house several people, and...
Number of Santa Clara County homeless veterans drops
Santa Clara County’s homeless veterans population has hit a milestone: the numbers have dropped to their lowest level since tracking began 20 years ago. There are 378 veterans who are homeless, with 298 unsheltered and 80 who are sheltered, according to the point-in-time count conducted in January. That’s a 21% decrease from the 479 homeless veterans...
San Jose homeless hotel faces complaints from neighbors
San Jose placed people swept from its largest homeless encampment in motels earlier this year, but neighbors near one location are raising safety concerns. Residents near the Bristol Hotel at 3341 S. Bascom Ave. on the border of San Jose and Campbell said RVs have appeared near the motel since homeless people began living there...