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San Jose’s mayor has faced criticism for his plan to ban homeless residents from setting up camp in certain parts of the city, but he believes it’s only because people don’t fully understand it. As part of his March budget message, Mayor Matt Mahan asked the city to explore enacting no encampment zones, which would prohibit homeless camps in...
A new push to move San Jose homeless from Coyote Creek
Valley Water is shelling out millions for San Jose to clear out homeless residents living along Coyote Creek. The $4.8 million contract with the city comes as the water agency prepares to build out mandated flood protection measures along a nine-mile stretch of the creek following the devastating 2017 floods. The nearly 120 to 200 homeless people living along the waterway...
San Jose braces for bill criminalizing homelessness
When Jade Sweeney surveys the area where she slept in south San Jose just last week, she not only feels sad—she feels violated. She said her belongings were taken and discarded by city workers following a sweep of her camp. She’s lived in San Jose for more than 50 years and became homeless last year....
San Jose won’t meet homeless housing goal
One of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s main goals is to finish his predecessor’s promise and complete 1,000 interim homes for the unhoused by the end of this year—but city staff said that’s impossible. Interim homes are quick-build temporary shelters designed to be a fast and cheap solution to getting homeless residents off the streets and on the path to permanent...
State to audit San Jose’s homeless spending
California is set to audit how San Jose spends its homeless funding, following a request from state Sen. Dave Cortese. The state’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the audit proposed by Cortese last year. The California State Auditor will review the success rate of various state and local programs—including Project Homekey—in...
Santa Clara residents blast homeless housing plan
Dozens of Santa Clara residents weighed in on a proposed supportive housing development for homeless people, with the majority against the idea. The proposed development, at the corner of Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway, would include between 80 to 120 interim, or transitional, homes. The county, through its nonprofit partner LifeMoves, would offer on-site support services, and each...
San Jose reveals homelessness data
San Jose is launching a tool to help the public better understand the city’s efforts to address growing homelessness. The Homelessness Program Dashboard lets residents browse different city-run programs and learn more about their results on the city website. The tool shows where funding comes from, which services are being prioritized and how many people are being served. “We can’t expect to solve our...
The last inhabitants of San Jose’s former ‘Jungle’ encampment
When Jose Pantín surveys the area of land formerly known as the Jungle—a wide embankment off of Story and Senter roads next to Coyote Creek—he finds it hard to picture a park in its place. The 70-year-old man moved to the former site of the Jungle about five years ago after living in the streets...
RV dwellers in San Jose still in limbo
San Jose promised homeless people living in RVs a safe parking site by the end of January. Now, it’s unclear when it will open. Infrastructure work is still needed, pushing back the opening of the Santa Teresa VTA light rail site until at least March 31. But even that may not happen, housing department spokesperson Jeff Scott...
San Jose housed more than 2,500 people — but still falls short
San Jose reportedly had one of its most significant years in housing the homeless, but advocates said the efforts are barely making a dent. In the past year, San Jose helped nearly 2,600 homeless people get off the streets, with 71% of them moving into permanent housing, according to a city report published this month. The...