San Jose Homelessness Crisis: He knew about the homeless problem before Mayor Matt Mahan’s press meeting in San Jose.
He Said we must treat it as a problem. Our words must align with our actions.
The mayor, vice mayor, and others are preparing to declare a homelessness crisis in San Jose.
“Homeless advocates knew it was a crisis,” said Pastor Scott Wagers, a strong supporter from the South Bay.
In San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, over 4,000 people live on the streets, in RVs, and along riverbeds. City officials say COVID-19 has worsened the situation.
David Cohen, a councilman from District 4, said, “Our residents and council are frustrated.”
Due to this, there are more encampments, leading to numerous problems.
It’s like a person hurt in a car crash. Elisabeth Funk, CEO of DignityMoves, a non-profit aiding homeless people in finding temporary housing, emphasized the need to halt the bleeding.
Declaring a crisis aims to streamline policies and procedures, reducing the time to build temporary housing, safe parking, and sleeping areas from years to a few months.
Mahan emphasized the need for swift action to locate secure, suitable alternatives to camps in light of the crisis. Cohen agreed, saying it was the council’s job to swiftly solve problems.
Critics claim the city’s response to homelessness is delayed despite success stories like the Arena Hotel renovation.
It’s like saying, ‘We need water on that house; it’s on fire!’ while the house burns. “Then another house on fire,” Wagers said.
The mayor needs a three-vote majority on the Rules Committee for the crisis statement to pass. If the goal is met, the declaration will be given to the council for voting. This could happen by late October.
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Our Reader’s Queries
How bad is homelessness in San Jose?
San Jose’s homeless population in 2022 has been reported to be 6,650, which is a slight decrease from the preliminary data released in May. However, this number still represents the largest homeless population the city has seen in 13 years.
What are the worst cities for homelessness in California?
In February 2022, over 40% of California’s homeless population resided in Los Angeles County. Shockingly, the number of homeless individuals in L.A. County surged by 65% from 2020 to 2022.
What city has the biggest homeless problem?
Homelessness is a major issue in many cities, but the prevalence varies greatly. According to the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) rankings, San Francisco has the highest rate of homelessness with 959 per 100,000 people, followed by New York City with 742 per 100,000. Long Beach and Boston also have high rates with 730 and 683 per 100,000 respectively. It’s important to address this issue and provide support for those experiencing homelessness in these cities and beyond.
What is the problem with homeless people in California?
California’s homeless population has surged from 130,000 in 2018 to over 170,000 today, marking a staggering 30% increase. Despite spending $20 billion over the past five years, Democrat lawmakers and the governor have failed to effectively tackle this crisis.