In a long-awaited move marked by delay and anticipation, San Jose is set to unveil its first sanctioned homeless encampment this August—offering a rare blend of order, safety, and service in the heart of a rising crisis. Designed to host 56 individuals, this carefully planned navigation site promises meals, hygiene facilities, and security, at a staggering $2 million annual cost. As encampment sweeps loom and the city’s unhoused population grows, the new site stands as both a sheltering step forward and a mirror to deeper urban strains.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Opening in August: San Jose’s first sanctioned encampment to host 56 unhoused residents

• Annual Cost: $2 million for operations, including meals, showers, security, and staffing

• Navigation Center Model: Residents will receive services to help move into stable housing

• Construction Delays: Water lines and PG&E certification issues pushed project months behind

• Homeless Sweeps: Individuals from upcoming Columbus Park sweep to be routed here

• Future Sites: Five motels opening later this year, including shelter for women and children

After several months of halted timelines and infrastructure hurdles, San Jose is preparing to open its first sanctioned homeless encampment, a significant shift in how the city approaches its housing crisis. Slated for launch in August, the designated “safe sleeping” site at 1157 E. Taylor Street will accommodate up to 56 unhoused individuals—offering them temporary refuge, stability, and support services amid a worsening homelessness situation.

Originally announced with much anticipation, the project was first expected to be operational in March. That deadline was later pushed to June. Now, following the completion of all groundwork and technical installations, city officials have confirmed that the long-awaited encampment will indeed begin welcoming residents next month.

The delays were attributed to logistical issues. Among them: the installation of a water line necessary for fire safety and the enforcement of a new contractor certification requirement from PG&E, which added another layer of complexity to the process.

“We have completed all the site preparations and grading, water line installation, paving, fencing, site storage and tent pad installation,”
—Matt Loesch, Director of Public Works, told San Jose Spotlight.

With those preparations now in place, the site is expected to operate as a transitional navigation center rather than a long-term encampment. The city is positioning this project as a means to connect homeless individuals to critical services—housing, healthcare, case management, and counseling. The aim is to transition participants from tents to temporary or permanent housing within three to five weeks.

Managed by nonprofit partner HomeFirst, the site will offer three meals daily, access to showers and laundry, and round-the-clock security. In a city where thousands sleep unsheltered each night, this is seen as a modest but focused effort to bring some measure of order and assistance to those living on the streets.

The rollout of the site also coincides with a scheduled sweep at Columbus Park on August 18, where a significant number of people—many living in RVs or makeshift tents—face removal. San Jose Housing Department spokesperson Sarah Fields noted that those being displaced from encampments will be given priority for space at the new facility and other temporary housing options.

“As these sites come online, there will be movement for these individuals (out of the safe sleeping site) as it aligns with need and availability,”
—Sarah Fields, San Jose Housing Department.

Still, housing advocates argue that these measures fall short. While the navigation center may provide a lifeline to a few dozen people, hundreds more remain in limbo—particularly those living in RVs, which the safe sleeping site is not equipped to accommodate. According to community activists, Columbus Park alone is home to at least 100 people living in vehicles.

“It’s implied that the city’s got plenty of spaces for them to go. And there’s not,”
—Todd Langton, founder of Agape Silicon Valley, told San Jose Spotlight.

“There’s going to be a two, three-month gap if they do get into the hotel,”
—he added, raising concerns about the potential fallout from forced removals.

To address the gap, the city is working on opening five motels for temporary housing, including the Bristol Hotel—located near the San Jose-Campbell border—which will specifically cater to women and children. These sites will collectively serve up to 330 people, and two will offer space for RV dwellers—though only 15 spots will be available for that specific population, leaving the majority still vulnerable.

Despite ongoing efforts, San Jose’s homeless population remains on the rise. As of the latest point-in-time count conducted in January 2025, the city recorded 6,503 homeless individuals—of whom 3,959 are unsheltered. These numbers represent a slight increase from 2023 and follow a peak in 2022, when San Jose had one of the highest per capita homeless populations in the United States.

Since 2024, San Jose has added four temporary housing sites, offering a combined 524 beds. However, the growing demand continues to outpace these new resources.

“I applaud the city’s effort to house people,”
—Steve Pinkston, board member at Recovery Cafe San Jose, said.

“(But) if you don’t have a remedy for people to be housed, you may do a sweep, you may do a clearing out, but people will return.”

The sanctioned encampment marks a turning point in San Jose’s evolving housing strategy. But as city officials roll out one solution, the gaps in broader infrastructure and long-term housing options remain glaring. And with a growing number of residents forced to live in parks, vehicles, and underpasses, the question remains: Will these short-term solutions hold up against a long-term crisis?

As San Jose prepares to open its first sanctioned homeless encampment, the initiative signals a cautious step toward structured shelter and support. Yet, with limited capacity and an ever-growing unhoused population, the effort highlights both progress and pressing gaps. Whether this site becomes a true gateway to stability or just a temporary patch in a deepening crisis remains a question the city must urgently confront.

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