San Jose State University student Noemi Vasquez was cruising through her freshman year when her father — who was providing financial support — got into an accident and was no longer able to pay his daughter’s rent after facing expensive medical bills. Vasquez, who was born and raised in San Jose, says the incident occurred...
Housing
Housing
Look inside: Housing startup eyes San Jose to launch its first “backyard homes”
Housing startup Abodu’s headquarters sit along a winding road on the edge of Redwood City and ritzy Woodside, but instead of an office, it’s home to a small, single-story, modern-looking house in the middle of a dusty, mostly empty lot. The 495-square-foot “backyard home” is the first — a showcase — of what Abodu’s...
Santa Clara County has no count for homeless suicides in last two years
In 2016, a total of 132 unhoused people were reported dead in Santa Clara County, eight of which were ruled a suicide, according to a study by the Santa Clara County Medical-Examiner Coroner office. But county officials do not have an estimated count for suicide deaths among homeless residents for the last two years and...
San Jose community colleges oppose bill to provide safe parking for homeless students
Whether they are couch surfing, living in their car or out on the streets, nearly one in five community college students in California reported experiencing some form of homelessness over the course of a recent 12-month period. That data — published by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the Hope Center for College, Community,...
San Jose: Affordable housing project for seniors raises concerns
An ambitious, urban village project is underway and coming to Blossom Valley, but within it, a proposed affordable housing complex for seniors has some residents shaking their heads. On Monday, city planning officials rolled out a plan to build a 147-unit affordable housing project for seniors at a community meeting at the Hayes Mansion. Hundreds of...
Santa Clara County OKs building low-income housing on vacant county land
There are nearly 80 acres of county-owned land sitting vacant – near hospitals and public transit – and now county lawmakers will look at turning it into apartments for homeless residents. Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez presented a proposal at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday to look into building extremely low-income housing on that...
San Jose: Homelessness forum highlighted statistics and solutions
A panel discussion on homelessness brought dozens out to San Jose Thursday to talk solutions to a problem affecting thousands within Santa Clara County. Leading voices from the city, county and local nonprofits met with the San Francisco Chronicle at the Cisco campus to detail what’s been done, what’s happening now and what could be...
San Jose to consider prohibiting landlords from snubbing Section 8 renters
For years, landlords have shut the door on prospective tenants who receive housing subsidies to help pay rent. But now, voucher holders in San Jose may be getting their fair shot at securing housing in the private rental market. Next week, the San Jose City Council will vote on adopting an ordinance aimed at reducing...
San Jose begins crafting its anti-displacement policy
As Silicon Valley’s economic growth persists, residents are plagued with a turbulent housing crisis that continues to raise rents and increase displacement among communities of color. In the hub of the valley, San Jose now exemplifies the region’s widening inequality, leaving local leaders chasing solutions that aim to close that gap. Among these solutions is an anti-displacement policy,...
San Jose affordable housing project draws concern over limited parking
Homeless advocates and city officials agree that San Jose is in dire need of some housing solutions, but a new project planned for downtown drew the ire of residents who worried about a lack of parking. Nonprofit housing developer, The Kelsey, unveiled a proposal that could chip away at the housing shortage, but critics are...