CITY COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
DEPARTMENT(S)
Housing
CEQA
Mitigated Negative
Declaration for
Emergency Interim
Housing Programs,
File No. ER 22-198.
COORDINATION
City Attorney’s Office;
City Manager’s Budget
Office; Planning,
Building, and Code
Enforcement
Department; and
Public Works
Department
Director Approval
/s/
Erik L. Soliván
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S)
Citywide
CMO Approval
12/4/24
SUBJECT: Extension of the Declaration and Proclamation of a Local Emergency for the Homeless Shelter Crisis in the City of San José
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution finding the continued existence of a homeless shelter crisis in the City of San José pursuant to, and in accordance with, the provisions of the California Government Code section 8698 et seq., and renewing the proclamation of a local emergency pursuant to, and in accordance with the provisions of California Government Code sections 8558 and 8630, the San José City Charter, and San José Municipal Code caused by conditions and threatened conditions of homelessness in the City of San José.
BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION
Original Homeless Shelter Crisis Declaration and Proclamation
On October 24, 2023, City Council adopted the homeless shelter crisis declaration and proclamation of a local emergency caused by conditions and threatened conditions of homelessness in the City. On June 18, 2024, City Council approved extending the homeless shelter crisis declaration and proclamation, finding the continued existence of a homeless shelter crisis in the City. The current homeless shelter crisis declaration and proclamation City Council resolution requires staff to renew any recommended extensions every six months to renew a proclamation of a local emergency.
Request to Extend the Homeless Shelter Crisis Declaration and Proclamation
The staff recommendation in this memorandum continues the homeless shelter crisis declaration and proclamation of local emergency to allow the City to use its emergency powers under state law, the City Charter, and the San José Municipal Code to streamline and expedite regulatory and procurement processes and reduce costs and timelines for developing emergency shelter and interim housing, hotel leasing, supportive parking, and supportive outdoor sleeping sites, under the above strategy to address the shelter crisis.
Over the past six months, the City has made significant strides in expanding supply in the shelter management system, including the following:
• Broke ground on 144 interim shelter beds at the Rue Ferrari Emergency Interim Housing expansion project and completed and opened 72 beds at the Pacific Motor Inn Emergency Interim Housing site, focusing on high-priority areas with significant unsheltered homelessness.
• Advanced shared initiatives with county, state, and regional agencies, resulting in greater resource alignment and execution for joint projects addressing unsheltered homelessness along waterways and partnerships for interim housing development on shared land.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 12/17/24
FILE: 24-2331
ITEM: 2.21
• Continued exploring modular housing and supportive outdoor sleeping sites by leveraging research and best practices from other jurisdictions.
• Established a refined strategy for resolving the unsheltered homeless crisis by developing a pro forma to align shelter supply with the demand on the street in unsheltered homeless encampments.
Collectively, these efforts aim to increase emergency shelter and interim housing capacity to advance the City’s goals for addressing homelessness.
Priorities During the Extended Homeless Shelter Crisis Declaration and Proclamation
If the staff recommendation is approved, this will allow the City to sustain progress and overcome ongoing barriers to implementation, including focusing continued efforts to accelerate and expand the development of emergency shelter and interim housing, supportive parking, and safe sleeping opportunities, including 1,089 units by July 2025 and targeting an increase in shelter bed availability and housing options specific to those exiting the waterways. Key priorities include:
• Mitigating environmental impacts by addressing encampments near waterways that contribute to pollution and risk non-compliance with stormwater permit requirements; • Finalizing construction of 86 new emergency shelter units currently underway at specialized sites, such as the Supportive Parking for Recreational Vehicles Program 1300 Berryessa Road site and 216 new interim housing beds at the Branham and Monterey emergency interim housing sites;
• Using emergency procurement powers to secure a site operator to develop up to 60 supportive outdoor sleeping spaces at the Taylor Street Navigation Hub site to provide safe, monitored accommodations for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness; and, • Preparing to break ground on up to 336 new emergency interim shelter beds at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s Cherry Avenue and Cerone Bus Yard Emergency Interim Housing sites.
By prioritizing these efforts, the Housing Department will ensure that emergency shelter solutions remain central to the City's strategy for mitigating the impacts of homelessness, aligning with broader goals to achieve functional zero unsheltered homelessness while leveraging new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
COST AND FUNDING SOURCE
There are no costs associated with the recommended action in this memorandum.
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Cupid Alexander, Deputy Director, Housing Department, at [email protected].