In a windfall for Mountain View, the California Department of Housing and Community Development recently awarded the city $50 million to support an affordable housing project and transportation improvements on Middlefield Road. The City Council authorized the city manager to accept the award last month with the bulk of the funding, $35 million, slated to...
Battle lines drawn in San Jose housing plan overhaul
San Jose housing advocates and neighborhood groups are getting organized as the City Council prepares to take up a raft of proposals that could determine the course of housing development in the city for years to come. The package of recommendations, part of the city’s once-every-four-year review of its general plan, makes changes to the city’s...
San Jose nonprofit gives school supplies to 3,500 students
Inequity remains a growing issue in Santa Clara County, but one nonprofit is trying to help. For families struggling to make ends meet, backpacks and school supplies can be out of reach. Sacred Heart Community Service — which tackles the systemic roots of poverty by offering essential service safety net services such as food aid,...
Santa Clara County could see a bump in affordable homes
Santa Clara County may see another funding boost to build more affordable housing—if voters approve a bond measure in November. On June 25, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $11.25 billion affordable housing bond measure that would provide funding for home ownership, permanent supportive housing and the preservation of affordable housing. The bond would break out $1.25 billion...
State proposition could wipe out San Jose’s Measure E funds
San Jose leaders are rallying opposition to a measure headed for the statewide November ballot that could undermine a cornerstone of the city’s efforts to keep low-income people housed. The measure, championed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, raises the threshold to pass local voter-sponsored tax initiatives, and also limits the amount cities can tax...
California streamlines affordable housing funding
California is creating its first standalone housing agency to help streamline funding for affordable housing development — except it has no new money due to proposed state budget cuts. Starting July 1, the state will create the California Housing and Homelessness Agency to house various departments overseeing state and federal housing funding programs under one...
Increased demand strains South Bay service providers
South Bay safety net service providers facing an increased demand and decreased funding are calling for community support. The Emergency Assistance Network, a collaboration of Santa Clara County nonprofits led by United Way, is confronting a devastating lack of financial assistance due to federal and county budget cuts. The network provides coordinated support for residents...
San Jose looks to housing vouchers to fill mostly vacant high-rise
With the launch of a new housing voucher program, San Jose intends to strike two birds with one stone: Provide below-market rate homes downtown and stabilize a financially struggling residential complex. Under the first rollout of the Lower Income Voucher and Equity Program, approved by the City Council Tuesday, San Jose will provide up to...
Santa Clara County brings mental health services to shelters
An at-times icy relationship between San Jose and Santa Clara County seems to have thawed as the county works to bring mental health services to the city’s temporary housing sites for homeless residents. Last year, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan claimed the county wasn’t doing enough to address homelessness, and called for more county investments....
Cupertino council approves unique affordable housing project
A controversial nonprofit housing project in Cupertino that’s been under consideration for about 20 years has the green light to move forward. After a three-hour marathon of presentations and public comment Tuesday, the City Council voted 3-1-1 to narrowly approve a first-of-its-kind housing mix with 40 affordable apartments. Of those, 19 will be set aside...