Critical Meeting August 7tht 9:00 AM at SC County Housing Task Force with Board of Supervisors

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Aug. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- On Friday, August 7th, at 9:00 AM, Santa Clara Counties Housing Task Force will meet in the Board of Supervisors Chamber (70 W. Hedding St., San Jose) to discuss what immediate relief should be provided for the community’s 4,000 people who are forced to sleep outside every night.  The Affordable Housing Network urges all to join in and support the call for the creation of lawful homeless villages.

The advocacy group HOMELESS has prepared a detailed proposal that describes the homeless villages and the support services needed to make them a success.  This is the first time that the county, or any of the cities in the county will be considering a comprehensive solution, short-term solution to the areas homelessness crisis.


Most everyone agrees that the ultimate solution is permanent housing and social support services for the homeless.  However, most everyone also agrees that the community is years away from such housing.  Therefore, the question is what to do in the meantime.  HOMELESS’s proposal is for villages of 100 to 200 people who, at least initially, provide their own tents on spare land the county would borrow from other public agencies.  The county would also provide water, toilets, showers, and trash pickup.  In addition to these basic utilities, the county would provide case management and other social support services.

Santa Clara County and the cities in the county are together spending $500 million per year breaking up homeless encampments, providing homeless health care, etc.  Lawful homeless villages would save much more of this money. The program and savings would provide stability and dignity for the homeless, making their eventual move into permanent housing more successful.

Please join the meeting on August 7th and show support of improving the lives of our poorest friends, neighbors, and family members.

Media Contact: Sandy Perry  perrysandy@aol.com