Veterans living in a substandard housing complex in East San Jose have been moved to a hotel while the property continues to be renovated.
About nine veterans were relocated from 10 Kirk Ave. in February to a hotel in Milpitas while Santa Clara County works on interior renovations in two buildings. Some of the relocated veterans worry they may not be allowed to return once the work is completed in June, or that the conditions to return won’t suit their needs, since they’ve received conflicting information from Abode Services, the nonprofit managing the site. Veterans said Abode workers recently told them they could return to the facility, but would have to sign a one-year lease and pay for their own internet and meals — things they didn’t previously need to pay for.
Despite that, veterans said Abode workers have been pushing them to find their own housing.
“They are doing everything they can to make it as uncomfortable as possible to stay (at 10 Kirk Ave.),” one veteran, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, told San José Spotlight. “I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place because I can’t afford to be on my own.”
Santa Clara County purchased the 4.26-acre facility in November 2023 for $14.5 million and began repairing the dilapidated building, which had mold, electrical hazards and sewage issues, among other problems. The county has done some major repairs, including fixing fire sprinklers and repairing electrical systems, but some veterans still lived in moldy conditions until they moved to the hotel. A few veterans have been allowed to remain onsite and moved to a different building.
Abode took over providing services for the veterans at 10 Kirk Ave. last October after the Veterans Administration terminated the contract with the previous nonprofit when it didn’t meet the VA’s standards.
But in order for Abode to receive a contract with the VA, which typically funds veterans services, the facility needed to pass a building inspection first. The VA recently cleared three of the buildings in the facility, including the two being renovated, and will activate the contract with Abode after a final review, a VA spokesperson told San José Spotlight.
Until then, the county is continuing to fund services and hotel stays for the vets, and has committed more than $1.5 million since last year from its contingency reserve fund until the end of June.
Deputy County Executive Consuelo Hernández said once the VA signs off on the contract, it will enable the county to accept new veterans at 10 Kirk Ave. But Hernández and Abode haven’t provided clear answers as to whether the veterans staying at the hotel can return if they can’t find housing elsewhere.
“I cannot speak about individual clients, but the county is committed to ensuring every veteran has the support that they need,” Hernández told San José Spotlight.
Hernández said Abode is working with each veteran to explore housing options. Abode referred questions back to the county.
One veteran wanted to stay at 10 Kirk Ave. during the renovation, but said Abode didn’t give him an option. The complex is made up of eight, single-story buildings with about 10 rooms per structure, but only one building is habitable. Approximately 15 veterans lived there before some moved to the hotel.
Hernández said there are limitations as to how many people can stay there because of the VA’s policy of keeping men and women in separate spaces.
County workers have stepped in to help some veterans staying at the hotel find housing. Veteran Carl Koprek said someone from the county Office of Supportive Housing accompanied him to see different apartments. He was able to find an apartment in the Santa Cruz mountains, after much searching and anxiety. He will move there in May.
“(The county) did me good,” Koprek told San José Spotlight.
Renovations for the two buildings include replacing floors, interior lighting, toilets, doors and windows and repainting the walls. Once the work is finished, the property will be able to give about 40 veterans temporary housing. The county also has a long-term plan to build permanent housing for vets there.
“We owe our veterans the very best care that we can provide,” Otto Lee, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, told San José Spotlight. “We’re now in phase two of facility maintenance and repairs, and I’m hopeful that we will be on track to open units next year for veterans in urgent need of housing.”
Contact Joyce Chu at [email protected] or @joyce_speaks on X.
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