Hope Village, the homeless encampment of about 16 people situated off Ruff Drive, will not be moved to Willow Glen anytime soon. The relocation was put on hold Monday by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, following intense scrutiny from residents in the neighborhood. “This problem didn’t go away, it’s not going away. The people who are unhoused are as...
Willow Glen residents come out in force against homeless project
The deadline to relocate homeless residents at Hope Village is approaching — but some of their potential new neighbors in Willow Glen are asking public officials to opt out. Emotions ran high Wednesday at a community meeting as some residents expressed concern that the Hope Village project — a sanctioned homeless encampment currently on Ruff Drive — will bring...
Frederick Ferrer takes helm at CASA of Silicon Valley
After consulting, teaching and leading child development programs across the country, Frederick Ferrer stepped into the role of CEO at the Child Advocates of Silicon Valley in late February Ferrer said the organization presents him with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Silicon Valley’s most vulnerable residents — at-risk kids. But...
San Jose mayor eyes second chance for affordable housing measure
Less than four months after a $450 million affordable housing bond measure failed at the hands of San Jose voters, Mayor Sam Liccardo is exploring his options for 2020. At the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Regional Economic Forum on Friday, Liccardo alluded that he’s in the process of building a coalition to go back to...
No more shredded tents: San Jose unveils new homeless sweeps policy
San Jose officials will now give homeless residents 15 minutes to pack up their belongings, avoid cutting their tents and provide ample notice in multiple languages before sweeping encampments, elected leaders decided this week. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday approved revised guidelines for homeless sweeps as part of a new agreement with the...
San Jose homeless families living in cars receive new shoes
It started with a single pair of shoes. A student in North Carolina cut holes in his sneakers in an attempt to extend their usefulness after he outgrew them. His school nurse took a picture of the battered footwear and sent it to her husband — sparking an idea. After receiving the text message, John...
Santa Clara County receives over $21 million for homeless housing
Santa Clara County will receive more than $21 million in federal grant funding for homeless housing programs, county officials announced Friday. The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition. The award includes more than $1 million in new federal funding for housing assistance and supportive services...
Silicon Valley advocates talk about discussing homelessness with kids
Scary. Dirty. Drunk. Those are some of the words that a classroom full of children used to describe homelessness, said Andrea Urton, who leads the nonprofit HomeFirst, which runs the largest shelters in Silicon Valley. “One child said ‘AIDS’ once,” Urton said. Urton says it’s critical for communities to change the conversation around homelessness to...
Six years later, Winchester Ranch Mobile Home Park closure continues
Six years after receiving word that the Winchester Ranch Mobile Home Park is closing to make way for luxury housing, the park’s residents are still uncertain about what’s next or when they’ll need to move out of the 111-unit senior community. “It came as a major shock to us when we woke up and we heard that the park...
A night on Route 22: ‘Homeless riders’ fear loss of overnight bus
Less than half a mile away from the gates of the platinum-plated campus of Stanford University – the hotbed of Silicon Valley riches – a group huddled around a dimly-lit transit station and shivered in the bitter cold. They held their oversized backpacks close to them, trying to stay warm despite their hoodies, beanies and gloves. It...