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...
Agreement lets San Jose clean up Caltrans property
San Jose is cleaning up state-owned land in an attempt to keep freeway underpasses free of homeless encampments. San Jose and Caltrans have an agreement that allows the city to clean up trash and sweep encampments on 13 sites owned by the state. California will partially reimburse the costs up to $400,000, and the city is in...
San Jose homeless hotel gets new management
A San Jose hotel converted to homeless housing is switching operators, and residents are welcoming the change. Nonprofit service provider WeHope will take over the Arena Hotel at 817 The Alameda starting Dec. 1 and replace HomeFirst. It will provide case management and temporarily manage the property, security and food until San Jose hires another...
San Jose homeless audit highlights failed accountability
San Jose’s homeless outreach efforts have been more concerned about volume than outcomes, and there is little accountability when homeless support nonprofits did not provide adequate services. A city audit of San Jose’s homelessness services released in October found some nonprofits did not meet performance targets or reporting requirements, and the Housing Department failed to...