Santa Clara County Homelessness Digest

County officials are hoping to coordinate support for the Salvation Army’s expansion of Emmanuel House shelter at 359 N. Fourth St. from 70 beds to 112 during a 10-month renovation project.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants counties to spend some revenue from California’s so-called “millionaire’s tax” on the state’s homeless crisis. That alarms advocates for programs that are getting that money today.

Many local governments see voter majorities approve bond measures without reaching the two-thirds required. A new effort to reform that system would drastically improve the ability of local governments to fund housing and infrastructure projects.

The California Department of Health Care Services has awarded $6.4 million to San-Jose based nonprofit Pathway Society to construct a 30-bed detox facility adjacent to Pathway House.

A new study suggests that relatively modest financial efforts to prevent homelessness have been remarkably successful. Vulnerable residents receiving emergency financial help were 81% less likely to become homeless within six months and 73% less likely within 12 months.

San Jose city zookeeper Amanda Maulding never thought securing her dream job would lead to her being homeless, but within two years of starting her job it became clear she was never going to make enough to pay rent.

Despite efforts by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to shelter more than 14,000 people this year, the city's homeless population keeps growing. That does not necessarily mean her signature program is failing. The larger question: How does California measure success?

The lack of enough places for everyone to live has sent coastal rent prices inland, removing large swaths of previously cheaper rental units.

After months of delay, a safe parking site for homeless residents has opened at the Santa Teresa VTA light rail station in San Jose, with 42 spaces for homeless people living in their vehicles.

Campbell resident Anjani Nabar and San Jose resident Sameet Das, both students at Mitty High School in Willow Glen, founded the nonprofit Code Red to support people facing both period poverty and homelessness by providing them with hygiene kits.

California’s more than 170,000 unhoused people often lack the means and mobility to locate and visit a doctor who will accept them. At least 25 street medicine teams throughout the state are trying to fill that gap by providing health care to unhoused individuals in need.

Karen Tanveer is a recent high school graduate, except unlike some of her peers, she has dealt with homelessness her whole life. But a new county guaranteed income program will give local students like her financial relief.

When San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres was challenged to sleep in a homeless shelter, he responded by staying at two different sites: a Salvation Army sober living center and Casitas de Esperanza, a shelter run by nonprofit Amigos de Guadalupe.

Palo Alto cemented its commitment to building a three-story shelter for unhoused individuals near the Baylands when the City Council approved a nine-year lease with the nonprofit LifeMoves to advance the project.

Quick-build temporary shelters are faster and cheaper—that’s been Mayor Matt Mahan's pitch. City analysis shows that if San Jose developed all of these projects, it would cost $60 million a year to operate them.

If things go as planned, Palo Alto will soon see two large new facilities go up on San Antonio Road, east of U.S. Highway 101: a housing complex for some of the city's poorest residents and a plant that will purify wastewater.

San Jose officials are being challenged by a formerly homeless resident to stay in a shelter before voting to open more—and one is up for the offer.

A new state bill would give the Santa Clara Valley Water District expanded authority to help thousands of homeless people living along creeks, streams and other district lands find housing and services.

What happens in seven years? That was the question during a special meeting of the Santa Clara City Council—a continuation from last week, when the council was slated to vote on a homeless housing project at Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway.

Fast food is the largest employer of homeless workers in California, with one of 17 unhoused individuals in the state working in the industry. That is according to a new report released by the Economic Roundtable.

San Jose voters passed a property transfer tax to help fund affordable housing, but the mayor wants to reallocate more than half for other uses. The city manager’s budget proposal shows that $38 million of the $70 million earmarked for affordable housing may shift to homelessness services.

California cities of every size lack shelter beds for the state’s growing homeless population. A new bill would force local governments to do more, and punish ones that don’t plan housing for homeless Californians.

After hours of listening to dozens of people who turned out for public comment, the Santa Clara City Council did not vote on a proposal to turn a vacant lot at Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway into temporary housing.

When Palo Alto rolled out in 2020 a new program that allowed local congregations to host vehicle dwellers on their lots, the Highway Community Bible Church was the first to step up to the plate. Now, it's the first to seek renewal.

Dozens of homeless residents will be able to get off the streets, as new interim housing opens at the Guadalupe Emergency Interim Housing site, near the doorstep of the San Jose Police Department.

Millions of federal dollars are funneling into Santa Clara County to help shelter and support those experiencing homelessness.

Milpitas nonprofit Hope for the Unhoused held its inaugural Community Homeless Conference. The event, according to organization President Rob Jung, was held with the goal of educating the community on the challenge of homelessness within both the city and Santa Clara County.

Democratic voters in California cities are pushing mayors and city councils to clear homeless camps. Leaders are responding with new ordinances, from Sacramento to San Diego.

San Jose’s mayor has faced criticism for his plan to ban homeless residents from setting up camp in certain parts of the city, but he believes it's only because people don’t fully understand it.

Valley Water is shelling out millions for San Jose to clear out homeless residents living along Coyote Creek. The $4.8 million contract with the city comes as the water agency prepares to build out mandated flood protection measures along a nine-mile stretch of the creek.

Senate Bill 31, proposed by state Sen. Brian Jones of San Diego, would ban people from sitting on the sidewalk within 1,000 feet of a “sensitive area,” defined as a school, daycare center, park or library.

Looking to contain rapidly rising costs, the nonprofit looking to build a residential complex for unhoused individuals near the Palo Alto Baylands is preparing to eliminate amenities and solicit donations.