San Jose’s first safe sleeping site for homeless residents was supposed to open in March, but has been delayed by months.
The city is converting a vacant lot at 1157 E. Taylor St. near Watson Park to allow up to 56 homeless people to sleep in tents without fear of being swept. Mayor Matt Mahan previously told residents the safe sleeping site would open this month, but a spokesperson for the housing department told San José Spotlight the opening is now expected this summer. The spokesperson didn’t provide a reason for the delay, nor did Mahan. A visit to the location on Thursday shows minimal work has been done since the site was announced last September.
“We will soon break ground on Taylor Street—a bold, first-of-its-kind approach to addressing homelessness in San Jose,” Mahan told San José Spotlight. “As our city’s first safe sleeping site, we’re committed to getting it right. That means ensuring it’s ready to serve residents safely and with dignity — just as all our homelessness solutions do.”
The site will have 24/7 security and serve as a navigation center, where participants will be given three daily meals, have access to shower and laundry facilities and get connected with supportive services. The goal is to move people within 30 days of placement to another temporary housing site such as a tiny home or congregate shelter — where people share a common space with limited or no privacy — or into permanent supportive housing.
Residents have raised concerns about the site’s proximity to Empire Gardens Elementary School and Watson Park. Homeless people set up camp along nearby Coyote Creek, and the city in recent weeks began sweeping the area and setting up no encampment zones. Neighbors are worried about increased crime and drug dealing in their neighborhood due to the safe sleeping site. The city will implement a no encampment zone near the site on both sides of Coyote Creek, from Mabury Road to East Empire Street, as well as around the park and school.
Delays could lead to distrust among the homeless residents the city attempts to help, Steve Pinkston, who serves on Recovery Cafe’s board of directors, said. Recovery Cafe provides a safe space and weekly activities for people dealing with addiction and homelessness.
“I think most people want some kind of clean, stable, affordable housing,” Pinkston told San José Spotlight. “If I’m promised X, Y and Z by a certain timeframe and I don’t get it, does that mean that now I distrust the person that said that? Does that mean that your credibility is lacking? Some would say yes.”
Mahan has promised to add 1,000 beds for homeless residents by the end of the year. The navigation center is part of this goal, as well as tiny home sites set to open this year. That includes Cherry Avenue site in September, which can house up to 136 people; an expansion of the Rue Ferrari site in October, which can accommodate an additional 134 people; and Via Del Oro, which will accommodate 150 people.
Delays when it comes to raising up shelter have been the norm. The 3-story site on Branham Lane that opened last month was supposed to have happened last year. That site was marred with mold, plumbing and structural issues, pushing back the timeline.
Pinkston said Mahan might not be able to meet his goal for reasons that may be outside of the city’s control.
“He may hope to get about 1,000 units, and it may not come to pass,” Pinkston said.
Contact Joyce Chu at joyce@sanjosespotlight.com or @joyce_speaks on X.
This story originally appeared in San José Spotlight.
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