San Jose Considers Funding Plan for Homeless Residents

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announced a plan for the city’s homeless residents which includes; temporary housing, encampment clearings, and plans to reunite people with their families out of town.  San Jose’s 2024-25 budget is doing better than expected, due to improvements in the local economy and saving almost $19 million of last year’s surplus in anticipation of a deficit this year – providing potential funding to support the proposed measures.

San Jose currently estimates that is has 6,340 unhoused residents, with nearly 5,000 that are unsheltered, according to Santa Clara County 2023 biennial count of homeless people. The Mayor acknowledged that the city has a responsibility to prioritize homelessness in the budget, which will need to be approved by San Jose City Council before the end of June.

Following pressure from the Regional Water Quality Control Board to depollute its waterways, a major goal of the program will be to clear encampments along San Jose’s rivers and creeks by building safe, dignified housing alternatives to eliminate the encampments.

Their plan to house homeless residents by reconnecting them with their families may be unrealistic.  Providing bus tickets to relocate unhoused people with estranged family members is challenging without supportive services, and many have family members who may be unable to care for them.  

The solution for San Jose will be to secure funding to build more permanent supportive housing. It is the best way to provide long-term stable housing and services that support individuals and their families who need ongoing assistance to maintain housing stability and prepare them to enter the job market, school, and other community activities.

To learn more about HomeAid or get involved in the projects we build please contact Crisand Giles.