Often referred to as the capital of the Silicon Valley, San Jose is a booming and picturesque city that provides its residents with various economic opportunities and a high quality of life. At least, that’s what it appears to be on the surface.

As of last October, San Jose officials have announced an emergency that can not be overlooked.. With approximately 6,340 homeless people in the city, concerns for lack of shelter, stagnated wages, food insecurity, and other basic necessities are beginning to arise. The reality is that San Jose is in the midst of a homelessness crisis, but fortunately the mayor has a solution. 

This crisis can be seen in full effect through the many homeless encampments that dot the streets of downtown and suburban San Jose. Thousands of people are left without shelter and protection from the elements, which is a substantial problem, considering the rains and freezing temperatures of the past year. Becoming a new crisis for the mayor and the city, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Board recently passed a mandate requiring the city to clear all homeless people living along creeks and rivers. This would require 25 million dollars to complete, and would displace 1,000 homeless people, which would subsequently require additional support and shelter. 

As expected, the fight to end homelessness is not a cheap one, which is why there has never been a viable fix to the problem. Mahan is pursuing a policy of making “interim shelters” or temporary shelters for the homeless to live in, as making permanent housing would cost a lot of money. 

All of this money has to come from somewhere, and Mayor Mahan is planning on diverting government funds from Measure E, a tax on real estate meant to fund affordable housing. Although he was originally planning on using $38 million dollars from Measure E, the City Council has only allotted $12.3 million to the project. This ambitious plan to rehouse the homeless will also most likely have to draw resources from other city services, with Mahan most likely eliminating 800 vacant positions in city agencies to save $10 million dollars. 

The allocation of the budget will prove to be a difficult task, as Mahan has other goals for the next fiscal year, such as investments in police recruiting, increased traffic monitoring, and investments in downtown San Jose to foster economic growth. Sacrifices and compromises have to be made in order to pass Mahan’s objectives through the council, but the question has to be asked, just what will the final agreement be?

With inflation on the rise and a troubling economic climate, those without a home are at an even bigger disadvantage, and it is getting harder to purchase a home and get back on their feet with each passing day. Homelessness will always be a prevalent issue in San Jose and other communities in the Bay Area, but what’s most important is minimizing the causes of homelessness and treating those who have already lost their home with the dignity they deserve.