Rising Homelessness in San Jose and Santa Clara County
Despite significant investments in temporary housing, the homeless population in San Jose has continued to rise. According to recent data, the city now has 6,503 homeless residents, an increase of 237 people compared to the 2023 point-in-time count. Of these, approximately 60%—or 3,959 individuals—are unsheltered, while 2,544 are sheltered. This marks a slight decrease from the peak in 2022, when the city had 6,650 homeless residents, with only 1,675 in shelter and nearly 5,000 unsheltered.
Mayor Matt Mahan emphasized the importance of continued efforts to combat homelessness, stating that investing in shelter and interim housing is effective. “Leaving people to suffer in unsafe, unsheltered conditions isn’t compassionate or progressive; it’s neglect,” he said. He urged other cities and counties to take similar steps to address the issue.
However, the situation in Santa Clara County remains even more dire. Preliminary data from a January point-in-time count shows that there are 10,711 homeless people in the county, an increase of over 800 from two years prior. While the county has yet to release detailed data for individual cities, it is clear that the challenge persists across the region.
Investments in Housing and Shelter
Over the past two years, the county has made substantial progress in addressing homelessness through the construction of affordable housing. More than 1,300 affordable apartments have been built, funded by Measure A, a $950 million affordable housing bond approved by voters in 2016. As of now, 3,239 people are sheltered, leaving 7,472 unsheltered.
The county has also helped move more than 8,000 people from homelessness to housing between 2023 and 2025. Officials attribute the ongoing rise in homelessness to factors such as lack of affordable housing, wage gaps, and structural inequities.
Expansion of Temporary Housing Sites
San Jose has focused on building temporary housing to provide immediate relief. Since last year, four temporary housing sites with a total of 524 beds or spaces have opened, including the Pacific Motor Inn, Branham Lane modular site, Berryessa safe parking site, and Via del Oro. Additional sites, such as a safe sleeping site on Taylor Street, a Cherry Avenue tiny home, and five hotel conversions into shelters, are expected to open this year.
City Manager Jennifer Maguire stated that the goal is to provide a variety of options to ensure dignified housing for those experiencing homelessness. “Providing a diverse set of sites ensures we have dignified options for our unhoused community to come off the streets and into a safe location,” she said.
Challenges in Addressing Homelessness
While temporary housing is a critical step, advocates argue that permanent solutions are equally necessary. Sandy Perry, board vice president at South Bay Community Land Trust, highlighted the need for more permanent housing. “People need to have temporary housing, but they also need to expand permanent housing, and (San Jose) refuses to do it because they’re waiting for the market to do it,” she said. She emphasized that government intervention and taxation are essential to achieving long-term stability.
Santa Clara County has expanded its Homelessness Prevention System by 65%, serving more than 2,500 households annually. The system provides rental subsidies to those at risk of eviction and is funded by both public and private sources. However, concerns remain about the sustainability of this support, particularly due to potential decreases in San Jose’s investment.
Budget Constraints and Future Concerns
This fiscal year, San Jose will allocate $5.2 million for homelessness prevention, a reduction of $2.3 million from the previous year. This could result in 600 fewer households receiving assistance. Housing Director Erik Soliván mentioned that the department is exploring ways to reallocate unspent funds to support prevention efforts, though the exact impact remains uncertain.
Ray Bramson, chief operating officer of Destination: Home and a San José Spotlight columnist, stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening existing safety nets. “Homelessness numbers are increasing because the cost of living is as high as ever,” he said. He noted that the current prevention system, which includes joint funding from the city, county, corporations, and private philanthropy, is vital to keeping people from becoming homeless.
Addressing the Root Causes
Perry pointed out that while rental assistance can be a temporary solution, the root cause of homelessness lies in the mismatch between income and rent. “Homelessness is caused in San Jose by a mismatch between people’s incomes and the rents. That’s what needs to be addressed,” she said. She suggested measures such as tighter rent control and increased support for statewide rent regulations.
With rising costs of living and limited access to affordable housing, the challenge of homelessness remains complex and multifaceted. Continued investment in both temporary and permanent housing solutions, along with policy changes, will be essential to making lasting progress.
