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In San José, we are doing our fair share when it comes to ending the crisis of unsheltered homelessness in California. If we pass our budget, this year alone we’ll be on track to open over 1,000 new shelter placements – more than any other city on the West Coast — to create a system that will soon offer nearly 1,900 safe, dignified spaces for those living on our streets, mostly through private modular units and converted motel rooms with onsite services. Virtually all of these units have been built in the last few years.
This is what action looks like. This is what treating homelessness like a crisis looks like. And I’ve seen fellow big cities begin to do the same. We’re doing our part — and then some.
But Sacramento is threatening to take away funding for shelter just as we’ve finally started to see cities take a more pragmatic approach. This year’s proposed state budget currently does not include the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program – which would take $30M from San Jose alone. We use these funds each year to build and operate safe, dignified shelter as an immediate alternative to the streets.
Big cities like San Jose have been tasked with solving the crisis of homelessness for the rest of the state. The state does very little directly, and at the local level, we’ve seen big cities like San Jose step up to take on this crisis while, frankly, many of our smaller neighbors and our counties are operating with a business-as-usual mentality.
Here’s the hard truth: We can’t do it alone. We’re being held accountable for solving this problem – and rightfully so. But accountability is a two-way street. And we’re here today to hold the state accountable for doing their part.
Because if the state eliminates HHAP funding in this year’s budget, 550 people in San José will be pushed back onto the street, reversing all of the progress we’ve made over the last couple of years. People who finally had a warm bed, a door that locks, and a case manager helping them rebuild their lives — all of that will disappear overnight. And neighbors who no longer live next to an encampment will them start growing once again.
We all call homelessness a crisis. But if we say it’s a crisis and then threaten to pull back the very resources that are helping us solve it — year after year — then we are not being serious. We’re being short-sighted. And worse, we’re being inhumane.
Let me be clear: This is not just about San José. This is about every city that is trying to move faster, house more people, and bring order and safety back to our streets. HHAP is working. Since it launched, it’s helped the state’s 13 largest cities add over 17,000 shelter beds, serve more than 150,000 individuals, and move thousands into permanent housing.
If we walk away from that now, we are not just walking away from progress. We are walking away from people.
Cities are stepping up. San José is stepping up. Now the state must do the same.
We need our partners in Sacramento to extend HHAP funding this year and make shelter and treatment operations a substantial and ongoing commitment of the state. Because if HHAP disappears, our ability to respond to this humanitarian crisis goes with it.
Let’s not lose momentum. Let’s not go backward. Let’s not let another 550 people fall through the cracks because of gridlock and budget cuts.
Let’s lead. Let’s act like lives depend on it — because they do. If you’re interested in helping me and other big city mayors advocate for these dollars, click here.
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