Santa Clara County is managing referrals to temporary homeless shelters (seven days a week from 9am-6pm). Please contact 408-278-6420 to get assistance.
EMERGENCY INTERIM HOUSING
In response to the COVID-19 emergency and the City’s shelter crisis declaration, the City of San José is developing three emergency interim housing communities to help protect unhoused people from the disease, slow the spread of COVID-19, and expand the City’s interim housing capacity after the emergency recedes.
On April 21, 2020, the City Council approved construction of the first emergency interim housing community on a parcel at the intersection of Monterey Road and Bernal Road. The City Council also directed staff to develop plans for emergency interim housing on Evans Lane near Almaden Expressway, and on Rue Ferrari near Highway 101.
Here are Frequently Asked Questions about emergency interim housing communities.
COORDINATED RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Interim housing is just one aspect of the City’s response to the COVID-19 emergency. The City of San José is working closely with the County of Santa Clara, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Destination: Home, Valley Homeless Healthcare Program (VHHP), and many partner agencies and nonprofits on a coordinated effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the impact COVID-19 could have on homeless individuals and families. You can find more information about this coordinated effort here.
Steps the City is taking to support our homeless neighbors include:
- Suspending abatements of homeless encampments to avoid unintentionally placing people at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19
- Placing hygiene equipment such as hand-washing stations and portable toilets at large homeless encampments to help slow the spread of COVID-19
- Arranging for garbage collection at large homeless encampments to help maintain sanitary conditions
- Providing information in multiple languages to homeless individuals in shelters, on the streets, and in encampments to help them understand how they can protect themselves from COVID-19
- Using South Hall as a temporary shelter for unhoused adults
- Using the Camden Community Center as a temporary shelter for unhoused families
- Identifying older homeless individuals with chronic health conditions who should be sheltered or isolated
- Operating two Safe Parking locations 24/7
- Piloting a food distribution program that will provide boxed meals to unhoused residents at two encampments
The City and County are continually searching for locations where we can expand temporary shelter capacity. Here is the current status of shelter operations in San José:
- The City’s Overnight Warming Location (OWL) is now operating 24/7 at a capacity that allows program participants to adhere to recommended social distancing
- Each homeless shelter is operating at a capacity that allows shelter operators to organize beds in compliance with recommended social distancing
The City and County are distributing fliers from the CDC and public health officials that describe the steps everyone should be taking to slow the spread of COVID-19. These fliers include:
Santa Clara County is managing referrals to temporary homeless shelters. The County is responding to calls seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 408-278-6420.
HELP FOR PEOPLE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS
If you are at risk of losing your housing or missing a rent payment, you can place your name on an interest list for the Rental Assistance Fund. The fund provides temporary financial assistance and supportive services to low-income families or individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless.
You can get more information about the Rental Assistance Fund by calling (408) 780-9134 or emailing covid19help@sacredheartcs.org. You can also contact any of the participating agencies (see the list on page two of this flier). During this current public health crisis, we recommend calling agencies before going into the office to confirm open hours.