San Jose officials are hard-pressed to find an alternative site for the Berryessa Flea Market as development is set to displace vendors and threaten their livelihoods. The city has explored two of eight potential locations — the former Sears near Eastridge Mall and a former landfill in South San Jose — but they lack substantial...
Santa Clara County sees 24% spike in new homeless residents
A year ago, the emergency homeless shelter in San Jose run by Family Supportive Housing received about 25 calls a day from desperate families needing a roof over their heads. The amount of calls have skyrocketed this year, with at least 50 calls a day as the phones ring nonstop. The number of new households...
San Jose expands cleanup crew that employs homeless residents
Neighborhoods stretching outside of immediate downtown San Jose will see cleaner streets and more job opportunities for homeless people in that area. Downtown Streets Team, a nonprofit that beautifies the city and offers a stepping stone for unhoused residents to reenter the workforce, is expanding its services into Luna Park, Alum Rock, Calle Willow and...
San Jose selects first homeless sleeping site
San Jose officials have zeroed in on the city’s first location for a sanctioned encampment, where homeless people will be allowed to stay inside tents without fear of being swept. The lot at 1157 E. Taylor St. could open early next year, with more safe sleeping sites opening by next June. The locations will house between...
San Jose sweeps Columbus Park after homeless return
Emotions ran high at a homeless encampment near a San Jose park as the city began sweeping the streets that unhoused residents called home. Two years ago, the city cleared the sprawling homeless encampment near Columbus Park that sits under the flight path of Mineta San Jose International Airport, after the Federal Aviation Administration threatened...
Historic San Jose building in need of major repairs
The San Jose Chamber of Commerce building is in need of some urgent upgrades, and the organization has launched a foundation to raise the funds. Built in 1942, the historic building that fronts the corner of West Santa Clara and Market streets is in need of a new cooling and heating system, water pipes and...
San Jose hotel for homeless residents fails to meet needs
Last year, a renovated San Jose hotel on The Alameda reopened with much fanfare to house homeless residents. But problems have cropped up from the start, according to people who live there. The city tapped nonprofit HomeFirst to provide supportive services and supervision of residents at the Arena Hotel, which was repurposed as a low-barrier...
San Jose has highest home prices in nation
It’s cheaper to rent a home in San Jose than buy one, though renters still pay steep prices in one of the most costly cities in the nation. A report by real estate platform Clever ranks San Jose as the No. 1 most expensive city to buy and rent, out of the 50 most populous...
Campbell expands housing policy over commission’s opposition
Campbell is adjusting its affordable housing policy in hopes of creating more homes and raking in more development funds, despite an official recommendation not to. The Campbell City Council voted 4-1 last week to expand its inclusionary housing policy, which would require smaller projects to convert at least 15% of homes into affordable housing or pay...
Silicon Valley farmworkers, veterans receive federal help
Two projects in Santa Clara County are receiving federal funds to renovate housing for farmworkers and homeless veterans. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren helped secure $2.6 million for the county, with $1 million going toward repairs on blighted buildings that house homeless veterans, and $1.6 million for housing and electrical upgrades for farmworkers to meet code compliance. Congressman Ro...