Every day we work to ensure that our neighbors can access safe, stable housing. Yet, the City of San José’s latest budget shifts focus away from long-term solutions, favoring encampment sweeps, fines, and vehicle impoundments over investments in deeply affordable housing and supportive services.
Decades of evidence show that punitive responses do not reduce homelessness; they make it harder for individuals to rebuild their lives. Instead, we must prioritize strategies that are effective, humane, and economically sound: permanent housing, rental assistance, and services that address the root causes of housing instability.
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley joins our nonprofit partners in urging the cities across our region to prioritize policies grounded in dignity, equity, and proven outcomes. The path forward isn’t punishment, it’s housing.