Santa Clara is advancing a comprehensive two-year plan aimed at reducing homelessness across the city by increasing shelter capacity, expanding outreach services, and supporting unsheltered residents through a range of targeted programs. The Santa Clara City Council recently reviewed a draft work plan that proposes 34 projects and initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness more effectively and sustainably.
The plan includes building a new 90-bed shelter for families, piloting a safe parking program for residents living in their vehicles, and creating a two-person outreach team to provide direct support and referrals to services. While the full plan will return to the council for a final vote in the fall, some key components are already in motion. One of the earliest steps includes a one-year contract with the nonprofit WeHOPE, which will launch the outreach team and make five hotel rooms available for temporary stays of up to 30 days, along with 10 additional rooms for use during inclement weather. Councilmembers are scheduled to vote on this contract on July 15.
The city’s strategy builds on existing efforts and reflects a growing urgency to take coordinated action amid rising homelessness rates. District 5 Councilmember Suds Jain emphasized that this year marks a significant shift in Santa Clara’s approach, as the city has begun allocating resources and personnel to make real progress. Funding has already been secured for a dedicated analyst to help manage and track the work plan’s implementation.
Among the plan's key goals is the addition of 136 new shelter beds by 2031. A major part of this effort involves a long-discussed homeless shelter at the intersection of Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway. The proposed facility will be designed specifically for families, featuring 90 beds spread across 30 private units. The city has already secured $25 million in funding from the state’s Project Homekey program to help initiate the project. More details about the shelter and next steps are expected to be shared at the city council's August meeting.
Santa Clara Housing Manager Adam Marcus described the planning process as a constant balancing act, given shifting state and federal policies and funding. He acknowledged the challenge of making progress while simultaneously developing the structure to support it. “In a way, we’ve been flying the plane while we’ve been building it because there’s urgency here,” Marcus explained. “There’s urgency to do something, and there’s a lot of shifting policy and funding changes that are happening.”
Recent data confirms the rising need for local action. According to a January point-in-time count, homelessness in Santa Clara County has increased by 8.2% over the last two years. The county is now home to an estimated 10,711 homeless residents. While updated city-specific figures have not yet been released, the 2023 count recorded 461 homeless individuals living in Santa Clara, 417 of whom were unsheltered.
District 2 Councilmember Raj Chahal welcomed the wide-ranging nature of the proposed plan, noting that homelessness is a deeply complex issue requiring a multi-layered response. He expressed concern, however, about the impact of potential federal funding cuts on the city's ability to maintain and expand these solutions. One of his primary worries is the potential removal of a county-funded mental health specialist from the Santa Clara Police Department’s homeless response team. Chahal emphasized that mental health support is vital given the high prevalence of such challenges among the homeless population.
The estimated cost of the two-year plan is $5.5 million, with $3 million projected for the first year and $2.5 million for the second. While the city has already earmarked funds for several programs—such as the WeHOPE contract—some initiatives, including the safe parking pilot, still require additional funding. City leaders are expected to continue identifying resources as they refine the plan and adjust to new policy developments and budget constraints.
Overall, the plan marks a strategic and intentional effort to address homelessness in Santa Clara through a blend of new services, infrastructure investment, and policy alignment. Officials hope the mix of shelter expansion, mobile services, and proactive outreach can improve outcomes for the city’s most vulnerable residents while laying the groundwork for long-term solutions to the broader housing crisis.
