San Jose to Dismantle 'The Jungle' Encampment
The city of San Jose will dismantle its largest homeless encampment, known as "The Jungle," by mid-April. The move is part of the city's broader strategy to address homelessness. Officials have not yet finalized relocation plans for the encampment's residents.
- This area, now officially referred to as Coyote Meadows, is currently home to approximately 100 individuals, according to a manual count by city staff. - The clearing process is scheduled to begin on April 15 and is expected to take 30 to 60 days, during which outreach teams will offer residents placement in interim housing. - Once cleared, the site will be designated a permanent "No Encampment Zone" to prevent re-encampment, a strategy the city is using in other areas, including near interim housing sites and waterways. - This is not the first time "The Jungle" has been dismantled; a major clearing occurred in December 2014 when the encampment housed around 300 people and spanned 75 acres. - The 2014 closure was prompted by unsanitary conditions and pressure from water authorities to stop pollution from human waste and garbage in Coyote Creek. The city spent over $4 million on relocating residents into subsidized housing at that time. - San Jose's broader strategy to address homelessness includes a "housing first" model, expanding temporary shelters, and creating safe parking sites. The city's 2025 point-in-time count identified 6,503 homeless residents. - In October 2025, San Jose entered into an agreement with Caltrans to streamline the clearing of encampments located on state-owned land within the city. - According to a 2025 report, homelessness in Santa Clara County reached a record high of over 10,700 people, with 58% of those surveyed reporting they were experiencing homelessness for the first time.
