Cassandra Magana, a policy manager at West Valley Community Services, shared her personal experience as a homeless resident during a City Council budget discussion. Many homeless individuals face complex barriers to accepting shelter, such as the need to juggle work and education, rather than common stereotypes like addiction or mental illness. Her testimony was part of a protest against a proposed policy by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, which would allow the city to charge homeless residents for trespassing if they refuse available shelter space three times.
"When I lived out of my car, even with an offer for transitional housing, I struggled to choose between my jobs and going to bed at 7 p.m."
"This perception that all homeless individuals are mentally ill or addicted doesn't reflect the diverse realities people face in finding and accepting shelter."
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