I remain committed to pursuing real, thoughtful, and productive solutions to our housing crisis. I have supported Emergency Interim Housing Communities/EIHC’s (formerly known as Bridge Housing Communities or tiny homes), sanctioned encampments, navigation centers, Safe Parking programs, Overnight Warming Locations (OWL's), storage lockers, and permanent supportive housing.

I have worked with City staff and listened closely to resident concerns as we implemented or constructed EIHC’s, permanent supportive housing units, Safe Parking programs, and OWL's in District 2 over the past 7 years. You will find information about our current programs below. 

I have recommended zoning changes to reduce regulatory barriers and streamline emergency shelter and transitional housing. 

In addition to the programs above, hotel vouchers, cleanups, and abatements, San Jose funds various programs intended to provide unsheltered residents with relief from living on the streets. Unfortunately, there simply is not enough shelter space for the 6,000+ unhoused individuals on our streets. 

Data and affordable housing information from the City: Affordable Housing Dashboard & Affordable Rental Housing (arcgis.com)

Solving homelessness in San Jose will require coordination and collaboration among all levels of government and with multiple stakeholders. Together, we must make significant investments in comprehensive wrap-around services that include: compassionate mental health services, drug rehabilitation, medical services, job training and assistance, and other needed support to help people become stabilized and self-sufficient.

We must build more affordable and accessible housing for all.

EMERGENCY INTERIM HOUSING Communities IN DISTRICT 2

Emergency Interim Housing Communities are a model for communities across the State as we continue helping people stabilize their lives. EIHC's provide a bridge from homelessness to self-sufficiency and permanent housing.

The success of EIHC’s relies on all of us working together as a City and as District 2 residents. As I have said on numerous occasions since 2017, I strongly support District 2 doing its part to help house our most vulnerable residents. I am committed to moving forward and establishing interim housing solutions in our District that are well managed and that contribute to the quality of life for all of our neighborhoods.

More than anything, I would like my neighbors to know that I hear your input. I believe strongly that we can be incredibly successful as a community if we continue efforts to support solutions as opposed to countering them. Everyone needs and deserves a safe place to shelter during this pandemic and beyond.

Unity and hope is what we need to move forward.

About District 2’s first two Emergency Interim Housing sites: Monterey Road/Bernal Road and Rue Ferrari:

• Sites: Both the Monterey Road & Bernal Road site and the Rue Ferrari site opened in 2020 and are currently occupied. They are operated by HomeFirst Services. Both sites were built quickly and efficiently, and are now housing some of our most vulnerable residents. 

• Residents: All residents were formerly living in motel rooms and referred to this site by a County case worker.

• Features: 24/7 security on site, health services, communal kitchen area where food is brought in from a commercial kitchen, computer lab, small dog area, community gardens, and small outdoor seating area.

• Donate and help: HomeFirst, a leading provider of services, shelter, and housing opportunities to the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Santa Clara County, is District 2's Bridge Housing Community provider. Visit HomeFirst Service's Amazon Wishlist to donate.

Updates on Emergency Interim Housing Community at Monterey Rd. and Branham Ln.

On April 13th, 2023, we broke ground on the City’s newest and largest Emergency Interim Housing Community located in District 2’s corner of Monterey Road and Branham Lane. I am proud to be a champion of solutions like this as we continue working towards ending homelessness. EIHC’s are built quickly, efficiently, and with the goal of integrating residents right into neighborhoods while providing services and support for people who are transitioning into permanent housing. Here are some quick facts about this EIHC:

- Before this site, San Jose had successfully built more than 400 EIHC units since 2020. This is all thanks to our ecosystem of partners who are aligned with our goal: LiveMoves who operates these safe and dignified homes, the City’s Housing Department and other City leadership, our past and present Mayors and Council, John Sobrato who committed private funding, the County and State for providing additional funding, and General Contractor Devcon Construction, Inc.

- This EIHC is made possible by a $51.55 million grant from the State of California Project Homekey

- This will be District 2’s third EIHC site

- This EIHC site will house 204 units, the largest site in our City

- EIHC’s can be up and running within a year of groundbreaking. These units will be arriving from a company in Tracy

- In addition to safe and stable housing, LifeMoves will provide residents with case management, crisis intervention, employment services, community development, and community integration

- The City Council approved my recommendation to display local artwork on our EIHC’s buildings and prioritize housing folks who have already resided in this particular community

In the past, my Council colleagues and I have been met with strong resistance from some residents about EIHC’s and other quality solutions that alleviate our City’s homelessness issues. But we are at a crisis, and we need to do something. Doing nothing is not an option. The good news is, we have proven that solutions such as EIHC’s work.

We had the pleasure of hearing from Jamie, an EIHC resident who expressed his gratefulness for a house key, shower, meals, independence, and continuous staff support. He’s gotten the help he needed to find a job, he gives back by volunteering to pick up garbage, and he’s made progress with his case worker to find permanent housing.

Moving forward, I hope that other San Jose Councilmembers will take the lead in implementing EIHC’s in their respective Council Districts. We also must continue services, support, funding, and protective policies for those already living in apartments so that we can reduce number of people falling into homelessness.

As the site is developed, we will provide construction updates when available. For questions about this site, please contact my office at district2@sanjoseca.gov.

Permanent supportive housing in District 2

Updates on Blossom Valley Senior Apartments, the development at 397 Blossom Hill Road

The construction of Charities Housing’s Blossom Hill Senior Apartments is progressing nicely. Construction is expected to complete by the end of Summer 2023, and residents are expected to move in starting Fall 2023. Catholic Charities is moving forward with construction plans for the ground floor Family Resource Center.

The Blossom Valley Senior Apartments include 147 units for seniors aged 62 and older with incomes at 30-50% of AMI, with one-third of the homes reserved as permanent supportive housing for seniors who have experienced chronic homelessness. In addition to providing services for the resident seniors, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County will open a Family Resource Center serving the surrounding community with family-centered wrap-around services to enable families to move to greater self-sufficiency. Using a trauma-informed service navigation model, Catholic Charities will provide an array of services such as: counseling, free tax services, benefits enrollment, community education opportunities, employment and immigration legal services. A community room will be available for community meetings and training sessions. In addition to Catholic Charities, Good Karma Bikes will occupy the rest of the ground floor. 

The project will also be incorporating two murals designed by Francisco Ramirez with Local Color.

All information about this property can be found on Charities Housing's website.

Blossom Hill FAQ