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...
2025 in review: Silicon Valley’s state of housing and homelessness
This year was daunting for Silicon Valley leaders and their efforts to confront homelessness. Actions to stem the growing tide of people falling into homelessness were threatened by federal and state funding cuts, on top of a record number of people losing their housing, driven by rising costs. Santa Clara County and San Jose leaders...
Federal judge pauses changes to Santa Clara County housing grants
A federal judge has temporarily blocked efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to upend federal funding for permanent housing. U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on Friday granted a temporary injunction halting the upheaval of Continuum of Care grants, which have historically been used to fund permanent housing programs and are the federal government’s main response to...
Cupertino Vallco development reduces its affordable housing
The developer of a massive residential, office and retail development at the former Vallco shopping mall in Cupertino is reducing affordable housing by 60% and office space by 25% to make the project “financially feasible.” Sand Hill Property Company delivered a revised plan to Cupertino’s city manager Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving, and the...
San Jose wants to raise rents in mobile home parks
San Jose mobile home residents say the city blindsided them by proposing changes that will increase rents. The Housing Department is considering an update to its mobile home rent policy that would include a one-time rent increase up to 10% whenever a mobile home is sold, among other changes. Under the existing policy, property owners...
San Jose housing policy change delayed after pushback
San Jose leaders are delaying a vote on a plan to revamp a development program responsible for generating a significant portion of the city’s affordable housing. The decision follows vocal pushback from opponents who warn the policy change would mean less housing support going to those most in need. The change proposed by city staff would increase target...