San Jose officials plan to make one neighborhood a “no return zone” for homeless people after hearing safety concerns from residents — but the mayor couldn’t confirm a date. San Jose Action, a group of residents living along Great Oaks Parkway, met with Mayor Matt Mahan and District 2 Councilmember Pamela Campos Monday to share...
Santa Clara County housing plans approved by state
Santa Clara County’s state-mandated housing plans have been approved — nearly two years after the deadline. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to approve the county’s housing element, which details how officials plan to meet state housing goals over the next eight years to account for population growth and other community needs. The California...
San Jose homeless shelter gets a facelift
San Jose’s largest congregate homeless shelter serving individuals has been updated to offer more privacy for residents. The 250-bed Boccardo Reception Center on Little Orchard Street, operated by nonprofit HomeFirst, has gone through a $150,000 renovation funded by Housing Industry Foundation. Upgrades include adding privacy panels between every bed, installing panels between the main shelter...
San Jose asks churches to lend a hand with housing
San Jose has a homelessness crisis — and the city is turning to religious institutions to lighten the load. Mayor Matt Mahan held a breakfast and two panel discussions Thursday to educate religious leaders on how church parking lots or empty spaces can be utilized for temporary or affordable housing. By the end of the event, nine...
Will Santa Clara County’s homeless count be accurate?
Hundreds of volunteers are fanning out across Santa Clara County to count how many homeless people are living on the street and find out how they got there. Every two years, the county participates in a two-day, federally mandated point-in-time count to gather information on the number of homeless people on streets and in shelters....
San Jose breaks ground on seventh tiny home facility
San Jose will add a seventh tiny home site to its temporary housing stock, giving dozens of people a roof over their head come fall. After more than two years, the Cherry Avenue tiny homes project is about to begin construction, with a planned opening in September. The $18.3-million project will provide temporary housing for...
Santa Clara County veterans still living in subpar conditions
Veterans living in a substandard housing facility in East San Jose said it’s getting worse, more than a year after Santa Clara County purchased it and months after a new service provider took over. The county purchased the facility at 10 Kirk Ave. in November 2023 for $14.5 million and contracted nonprofit Abode Services to...
Santa Clara County switches how homeless people are counted
Advocates are raising concerns about whether Santa Clara County is going to undercount the number of homeless residents this year. Every two years, the county participates in a federally mandated point-in-time count to gather information on the number of people living on the streets and in shelters. The count is taken over a two-day period...
San Jose ‘responsible landlord’ initiative could return
San Jose residents want a neighborhood improvement initiative to restart after it sunsetted last June due to lack of funding. Community organizer Jaime Angulo created the Responsible Landlord Engagement Initiative (RLEI) in 2010 to help neighbors resolve issues they faced on their block — whether it was an unruly tenant, a group home where neighbors...
San Jose selects operator for second safe parking site
A safe parking site for people living in their vehicles will open next month, and San Jose officials have chosen who will manage it. The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to award WeHope, a nonprofit homeless services provider, a $2.8 million contract to oversee the city’s second safe parking site on 1300 Berryessa Road. The...