FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2020
Plans underway to continue to expand shelter and motel capacity, increase education, and screening for individuals without shelter.
Santa Clara County, CA – The County of Santa Clara has identified housing for every COVID-19 positive individual in the County who needs housing assistance. Additionally, 174 vulnerable community members have been placed in a shelter or other housing and another 215 people will be placed in the next few days. Every homeless person who has tested positive for COVID-19 now has shelter.
The Director of the County’s Office of Supportive Housing, Ky Le, is leading this work as part of the County’s Emergency Operations Center. The County is working in close partnership with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Destination: Home, and the City of San Jose, and other partners to provide assistance to the neediest members of our community during this challenging time.
“We have led the region in addressing homelessness and the housing challenges facing our community,” said County Supervisor Dave Cortese. “I commend the County’s Office of Supportive Housing for ensuring that every COVID-positive member of community is off the streets.”
The Valley Homeless Healthcare Program (VHHP) and Gardner Health Services, non-profit partners are identifying homeless individuals and screening people who have three or more of the underlying health conditions identified by the CDC that make them at high risk if they were to contract COVID-19. We have prioritized sheltering these at-risk individuals. Additionally, medical providers go out to encampments, shelters and community-based organizations multiple times per week throughout the City and County to share information about COVID-19 and provide medical care.
Accomplishments to date include:
- All existing shelters are now operating 24/7 and are facilitating social distancing;
- Seasonal shelters remain open;
- The City of San Jose’s safe parking programs are operating 24/7 and the overnight warming locations (OWLs) will soon follow.
- The County has opened a temporary shelter at the Fairgrounds for 60 people. The City of San Jose will soon open both Parkside Hall and South Hall to be used as temporary shelters in the coming days as well.
- The City of San Jose has taken delivery of 105 trailers provided by the State of California and located in the East Parking Lot of the Kelley Park complex at Story Road and Remillard; these trailers will be refurbished and used to temporarily shelter homeless and unstably housed residents in the coming weeks.
The County of Santa Clara, City of San Jose, and Continuum of Care Partners are working together to address the needs of homeless individuals affected by COVID-19 in our community.
Visit the County of Santa Clara COVID-19 website for frequent updates.
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