San Jose will clear the notorious encampment known as The Jungle' in April

"Over the last three years, we've expanded shelter and interim housing faster than any other city on the West Coast, Mayor Matt Mahan said in a news release announcing the abatement. That work has allowed us to decommission our largest encampments so that we can restore public spaces for community use and connect people to the services they need to return to self-sufficiency."

"In the last 12 months, San Jose has added more than 1,200 beds to its shelter system bringing its total to more than 2,000 as it looks to move homeless residents off the streets and into more dignified living conditions. The city also has a vested interest in keeping encampments away from its waterways, as they are estimated to be the source of 90% of their pollution."

San Jose is conducting another major clearing of the Jungle, a 68-acre encampment near Senter and Story Roads that once housed over 300 residents. The city estimates approximately 100 people currently inhabit the property and must vacate by April 15. San Jose has significantly expanded its shelter system, adding over 1,200 beds in the last year to reach a total of 2,000 beds, representing the fastest shelter expansion on the West Coast. The city aims to move unhoused residents into dignified living conditions while addressing environmental concerns, as encampments are estimated to cause 90% of waterway pollution. San Jose faces potential fines for violating stormwater permit requirements and is establishing new expectations that residents cannot camp on public property when shelter is available.

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