Destination: Home

Our community’s homelessness crisis is SOLVABLE. We have evidence-based strategies underway that are ending and preventing homelessness. The ?? is scaling these proven solutions and building more homes everyone in our community can afford – especially families living on the edge of homelessness. #HousingEndsHomelessness Learn more by visiting https://lnkd.in/gAcrCDsM

The need for affordable housing for low income Californians and a permanent funding source to fund its production and preservation statewide is ever apparent. Californians need to earn 2.8x minimum wage to afford average rent across the state, while the state is only funding 15% of what is needed to meet its housing production goals. Read our latest California State Housing Needs Report for more details and the policy solutions that will help bring low income Californians home here: https://conta.cc/3FIfF4I

The recording is available! Watch it now: bit.ly/3QQYwYU

Let's talk about this term "Housing First". It doesn't mean "housing only" - it's a proven effective policy aimed at stabilizing homeless people in permanent housing and providing them with case management support and social services without forcing treatment, imposing job requirements, or demanding sobriety. Housing is the base by which someone experiencing the trauma of being unhoused can escape the chaos of the streets and can then work on finding a job, taking care of chronic health conditions, or getting sober. "When you're on the streets, all you're doing every day is figuring out how to survive," said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. "Housing is the most important intervention that brings a sense of safety and stability, where you're not just constantly trying to find food or a safe place to sleep." The country needs to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis to solve this issue, rather than turn to punitive ineffective responses. https://lnkd.in/euh_ufay

“It’s just impossible to live here. It’s no longer the American Dream — it’s the American nightmare around here." Manuel Jimenez isn't alone in his struggle for an affordable and stable home in our community. According to the 2025 Silicon Valley Index report, he's one of the 30% of households in Silicon Valley who, without assistance, cannot afford basic needs like housing, food and childcare. The growing gap between exorbitant housing costs and stagnant wages is pushing more of our residents into homelessness and with federal budget cuts on the horizon, we're in critical need of funding for affordable housing and prevention initiatives now more than ever. Read more at The Mercury News:

??URGENT: ICE is inhumanely targeting homeless shelters. This is a guidance for homeless service providers on what to do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER a raid by ICE. Providers should be prepared to protect their clients and ensure their basic dignity and rights are respected. Reports and recordings of ICE raids at homeless shelters and service centers should be sent to [email protected]. The full guidance includes info on designating nonpublic spaces, different kinds of warrants, Know Your Rights materials, and more. Raids and arrests won’t solve homelessness. Only housing will. Find the full guidance and more resources here: https://lnkd.in/eca7EUAH

Cassandra Magana didn’t accept an offer for transitional housing when she was unhoused – not because she wanted to stay on the streets, but because it meant choosing between juggling two jobs while being a full-time student or reserving a bed at 7 p.m. every day. “If I had been arrested or cited, I may not be here today,” she says. “That is the reality for so many of our neighbors. We cannot let our city leaders dictate a false narrative that being poor is a crime.” Arresting people for refusing shelter solves a nonissue. It only pushes people further into homelessness and away from accessing stable housing. We need solutions that show compassion. #HousingNotHandcuffs ?? Read more by The Mercury News: https://bit.ly/4hAiJx6

"…The policy of arresting people who reject shelter is ridiculous. The issue of people rejecting shelter is a non-issue." Batman of San Jose knows what's up. #HousingNotHandcuffs

“Our continuum of care has not had a problem filling units,” Jennifer Loving said. “We have a problem with the lack of housing options for people. That is every day the number one, number two, number three, number four, number five biggest problem. And when we make it about other things, it’s not going to solve the actual crisis.” Amidst a serious housing affordability and homelessness crisis, our community is facing very real threats to our existing social safety net. Now is the time to come together in collaboration to scale up effective policies and evidence-based solutions.

"Arresting homeless individuals fails to address the social, economic, and health-related causes of homelessness. This cycle burdens taxpayers, who fund both incarceration and repeated emergency responses. We need proactive solutions that tackle the root causes, not this temporary, harmful approach." Read more of this op-ed by Sean Allen, Victor Vasquez, and Kyra Kazantzis in San José Spotlight: