Years ago, the cutting-edge approach toward solving homelessness was a shelter bed and a transitional program that helped people become self-sufficient. Back then, the agency I run housed hundreds of people with this approach. People would come to us who were unemployed, or struggling with emotional issues, or simply burned bridges at home, and needed...
San Jose could be exempt from CEQA for homeless housing under proposed bill
In what could be another tool to address homelessness in San Jose, state representatives for the city are hoping to pass an amended bill that will exempt certain regulations for building homeless shelters. Assembly Bill 143 amends existing laws to grant cities and counties an exemption from certain building regulations and environmental analysis under the...
Bay Area has third largest homeless population in U.S., new report says
A new report on homelessness shows that the Bay Area has the third largest homeless population in the country, with 28,200 people in the region experiencing homelessness. According to the latest annual report on the state’s homelessness by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, homelessness in the Bay Area is just behind Los Angeles, with about...
San Jose denies contract extension for Chick-fil-A, invests in housing for poor
City Attorney Rick Doyle cautioned the council on rejecting the contract extension on the grounds of religious or political beliefs, which could be considered a First Amendment violation. Instead, they opted to reject the extension since Chick-Fil-A is not open on Sundays – one of the airport’s busiest travel days. At the suggestion of Yeager...
Bramson: The price of admission
Saturday night in downtown San Jose. My family is going to watch The Public, a new film by Emilio Estevez. It tells the tale of a group of homeless patrons who convince a few city staff members to help them take over a public library to use as an emergency shelter for a night to...
Silicon Valley housing shortage worsens for lowest-income earners
Only 22 out of every 100 households in California’s lowest income bracket have access to available and affordable housing, according to the most recent annual report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. That means the state’s poorest people can’t find a place to live — something which the report points out is a pattern...
Roberts: Solving housing with a new kind of company town?
The king of chocolate, Milton Hershey and his famous chocolate company, tried to build one, as did the founders of Pullman railroad sleeping cars and Steinway pianos. All these visionaries and very successful entrepreneurs not only created world-renowned companies, they also tried to create utopian villages for their employees. We call them “company towns.” Some...
San Jose lawmakers send letter to end SJSU homelessness
Five San Jose city lawmakers have now publicly declared their support to help end the student homelessness crisis at San Jose State University. In a letter released today, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmembers Raul Peralez, Magdalena Carrasco and Maya Esparza pledged their commitment to work with SJSU President Mary Papazian to help find housing...
Bramson: Ending homelessness isn’t an overnight fix
A crisis demands immediate action, but lasting change takes time. In some ways, this sentiment has managed to become the main battleground in the question of how to address the issue of modern homelessness in our communities. With roughly 114,000 people homeless in California – and about 70 percent of that population unsheltered – the...
State of the County: 2019 is the year of health
The vital need for healthcare dominated this year’s State of the County address with Board of Supervisors President Joe Simitian stressing the need for quality mental health and homelessness services. His address called for creating a better system where the many facets of healthcare — lack of insurance coverage, homelessness, mental illness and texting while driving —...