The atmospheric rivers that slammed California for the past few weeks once again show how vulnerable homeless people are to the weather. High winds, flooding, rain and an evacuation order forced people to seek out safety from the elements, quickly filling Red Cross evacuation sites in San Jose. The storms highlight the type of services...
In Your Backyard
Shaw: The season of reflection
It’s that time of year again where we begin to gather with family and friends, put on extra pounds and spend way too much money. Its hard to believe Thanksgiving is next week, because the year has gone by so fast. But nevertheless, the holiday season is here, and it’s often when people take time...
Shaw: Homeless people need more care than shelters provide
How is a homeless shelter expected to maintain the health and well-being of individuals with a mental illness or emotional issues, when no doctors are on staff? How is a homeless shelter expected to ensure the safety and comfort of individuals who require respite care, when no nurses are on staff? How is a homeless...
Shaw: South Bay homeless shelter ignores COVID mask mandates
The best ways to protect people from contracting COVID is through vaccination and mask wearing. Getting vaccinated is your personal choice and no one can make you get it, but not getting vaccinated will severely affect your life if you plan to work and live around other people. However, wearing a mask is something that...
Shaw: Legal encampments could help homeless transition into housing
The number of homeless residents is rapidly growing, so much so, that it is outpacing all solutions put forth to end it. It is well known that, within Santa Clara County, for every homeless person housed, three more become homeless. I’m afraid that number is likely increasing due to the aftereffects of the pandemic. And...
Eckhart: People with lived experience can help end homelessness
You may have noticed that I have been away for a short period. And during my time away recovering from a mishap, I was able to take a little time to look at how we as a community act toward the homeless population. I recognize some neighborhoods reach out and I’ve seen groups of people...
Shaw: No one chooses to be homeless in Silicon Valley
There’s nothing good about being homeless. It’s a hard and exhausting way to live. Most people aren’t able to imagine what living on the streets is like. Lately there’s been an uptick in the number of clients residing at the Sunnyvale shelter, as solutions to the pandemic increase. I’ve seen individuals come in from hospitals,...
Martin: Coming to terms with mental illness, addiction, homelessness
Mental illness is not always hereditary. It’s usually a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors that determines if someone will develop a disorder — and this is true for homeless people. Research and cellular biology has shown that about 5% of diseases are genetically determined, whereas the remaining 95% are environmentally based. This makes...
Ponciano: The homeless and recently unhoused just want — and deserve — to be seen as people
In my experience, community organizers, activists and entry-level employees of community-based organizations age like dogs. I’ve been all three, and I feel like a modern-day Methuselah just five short years later. In my time here, I’ve shared in the joy of significant policy wins. I’ve marveled at the absurdity of the inequity in our community....
Eckhart: Second Street Studios one year later: What has changed?
It has been more than one year since the first tenants, including me, moved into the county’s first permanent supportive housing project, Second Street Studios in downtown San Jose. What has changed? I can answer that in three words: Not a thing. Let me start at the beginning. On May 7, 2019, we got keys...