The success of another major California city’s safe sleeping program could provide a blueprint for how San Jose approaches its . San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said he was encouraged by the impact the low-cost interim housing alternative had on improving San Diego’s homelessness crisis when he toured the city’s largest safe sleeping site at Balboa Park last week in search of solutions on what does and does not work. “It’s quite incredible when you look at the scale and coordination of services,” Mahan said.
“They have gotten people into management safe sleeping sites with a reduction in issues. Yes, it’s a transitional site, but it’s also a significant improvement on the conditions.” The homelessness crisis has forced San Jose to reevaluate some of its priorities as it also grapples with a dearth of affordable housing.
Recent surveys counted approximately 6,340 homeless residents in San Jose, of whom about 70% were unsheltered. In this year’s budget, the city has continued to divert millions of Measure E funds from affordable to interim housing solutions, including the abatement of unsanctioned homeless encampments. The city has also made a $27 million historic investment in addressing its storm water permits to comply with the Clean Water Act, which required relocating the residents living along and polluting the city’s waterways to avoid tens of thousands of dollars in daily fines.
San Jose previously focused more on constructing tiny homes or quick-build.