In San Jose, access to housing and support for homeless residents appears to vary significantly depending on location. The city is prioritizing outreach and temporary housing offers for those living in larger encampments like Columbus Park and the reestablished Jungle in East San Jose, while residents in smaller camps report being overlooked and even subjected to arrest.
Uneven Access to Support
The city is preparing to clear the Jungle, an encampment of roughly 100 people, with promises of housing. However, homeless individuals near The Plant shopping center in South San Jose have experienced a different reality, facing police sweeps and a lack of housing offers. Mario Nogueras, a homeless resident near The Plant, stated, “It really sucks, because it’s like, where do I go? Where’s the help?”
Outreach efforts are also limited by jurisdictional boundaries. According to Sarah Fields, spokesperson for the San Jose Housing Department, outreach workers are not sent to the railway near The Plant because it falls under the jurisdiction of Union Pacific Railroad.
Arrests and Lost Resources
Nogueras reported being arrested for trespassing during a sweep on January 15 by officers from the SJPD’s Neighborhood Quality of Life team. He stated police did not allow him to take his backpack, which contained his insulin medication. He spent several days in jail without access to his medication and was unable to retrieve his belongings after his release. The San Jose City Council recently updated its policy regarding belongings seized during sweeps, now defaulting to treating items as personal property unless clearly identified as trash or abandoned, and requiring documentation with pictures.
Nogueras also lost his phone during the sweep, hindering his ability to connect with the Here4You shelter hotline when a bed became available. On paperwork documenting his arrest, police indicated he did not have diabetes, despite his actual medical condition. When questioned, a police spokesperson stated that medical history is not routinely documented in police reports unless relevant to the investigation.
Jackie Nogueras, Mario’s sister, was also detained by police during the January sweep and described the experience as traumatizing. She believes a change in approach to arrests and sweeps is necessary.
City Response and Oversight
The San Jose City Council allocated $514,249 to fund equipment for the Neighborhood Quality of Life unit, which consists of one sergeant and six officers. The unit was formed to address encampments and enforce Mayor Matt Mahan’s policy of citing and arresting individuals who repeatedly refuse shelter offers. However, the mayor’s office deferred questions about the team’s operations to the SJPD and did not respond to inquiries about the preferential treatment given to residents of larger camps.
A city audit last year revealed that individuals residing in designated “hot spots” were more likely to receive housing offers first, while those in other areas were often ignored. The audit also found that outreach requests were sometimes closed without assignment or action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many homeless residents does San Jose have?
San Jose has 6,503 homeless residents, with approximately 3,959 unsheltered and 2,544 sheltered, according to a count conducted in January 2025.
What is the Neighborhood Quality of Life unit?
The Neighborhood Quality of Life unit was formed last year to address homeless encampments and restore public spaces. It is also intended to enforce Mayor Matt Mahan’s policy of citing and arresting homeless people who repeatedly refuse offers of shelter.
What did the city audit reveal about outreach efforts?
The audit showed that people in designated “hot spots” often received housing offers first, while people outside of those areas were ignored. It also found that outreach requests were sometimes closed without being assigned or acted upon.
How will San Jose balance the need to address public concerns about encampments with the need to provide humane and equitable support to all its unhoused residents?
