Homelessness Growing By 30%+ In Santa Clara Co., Count Shows

SAN JOSE, CA — Santa Clara County, along with the city of San Jose, announced Thursday preliminary results of the biennial homeless census covering the county’s 15 cities and unincorporated areas — finding the numbers have "increased significantly."

The count conducted over two days in January found that the overall homeless population has grown to 9,706, which is an increase of 2,312 compared to 2017. In San Jose, the overall homeless count was 6,172, amounting to a rise of 1,822 in contrast to that same year. The rises amount to 31 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

The county has already housed 4,000 homeless families and individuals since 2017, so the problem seems to outpace the solution as Santa Clara County residents and wannabes stare down a $1.2 million median price tag to afford the American dream. In addition, rentals have not provided a safe haven for relief either.

Nearly three new people are seeking assistance from the county for each person who exits homelessness. The problems are so pervasive, many families have taken refuge in recreational vehicles, which tests many jurisdictions trying to deal with where to place them safely and efficiently.

“The reasons for homelessness are many and varied,” said Joe Simitian, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. “The high cost and shortage of housing are making a bad problem worse. Combining our efforts to prevent homelessness and create supportive housing with 2016 Measure A – Affordable Housing Bond – funds will continue to be an essential strategy in addressing homelessness. So far, the county has committed $234 million of Measure A funds toward 19 housing developments that will collectively add 1,437 apartments for the most vulnerable in our community.”

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo is calling for the area to "double down on homelessness prevention and, in turn, alleviate the human misery and greater public cost following an eviction notice."

Liccardo also insisted the county needs to "end the reign of the NIMBY in Silicon Valley," referencing those who have their piece of the pie declaring density housing solutions are "not in my back yard."

Think it takes a village — to not only raise a child but to raise a roof for those who are not as prosperous as others.

"We all have a shared responsibility to address this crisis — every city and every neighborhood. That means we must house homeless neighbors here, not the proverbial ‘somewhere else,'” said a city mayor who has made the issue a cornerstone of his elected office.

The county has prioritized development of housing for residents experiencing homelessness and households making less than 30 percent of Area Median Income, while the San Jose City Council recently approved allocating 45 percent of the city’s investments in permanent affordable housing for extremely-low-income residents. The 2019 census found the numbers also increased for chronically homeless and the unsheltered population.

• Countywide, the number of chronically homeless was 2,470, an increase of 373 over 2017. The percentage of homeless county residents who were unsheltered was 82 percent, up from 74 percent in 2017. And the number of unaccompanied youth and young adults was 1,876. While this figure was down from 2017, the decline was due in part to a change in methodology for counting young people.

• In San Jose, the number of people considered chronically homeless was 1,579, an increase of 374 over 2017. The percentage of homeless residents who were unsheltered was 83 percent, up from 74 percent in 2017. And the number of unaccompanied youth and young adults was 1,391. This was down from 2017. However, as with the county, the decline was due to a change in methodology.

“Now is the time to redouble our efforts to solve this crisis,” said Jennifer Loving, chief executive officer of Destination: Home. “The solutions are right here in front of us - we just need to mobilize the collective will and resources to scale our proven strategies and meet the enormous need in our community. Bottom line: homelessness is solvable.”