Santa Clara County expands mental health services
Santa Clara County is set to expand mental health services directly to homeless shelters. The initiative aims to improve the well-being of vulnerable residents by making care more accessible. The program is facilitated by an improved working relationship between the county and the city of San Jose.
- The latest official count in January 2025 found 10,711 homeless individuals in Santa Clara County, an 8.2% increase from the 9,903 counted in 2023. The number of unsheltered individuals saw a slight increase of 1%, while the sheltered population grew by 30%, reflecting an expansion in shelter capacity. - This initiative is part of a larger county investment of nearly $470 million for homeless solutions in the current fiscal year. These funds also cover prevention, rental assistance, and permanent supportive housing, where the county has seen a 95% success rate in keeping people housed. - The program begins with a pilot at two of San Jose's tiny home communities, Rue Ferrari and Bernal, where community health workers have already made referrals for or connected with 40 residents for behavioral health services. The county plans to expand these services to other tiny home sites later in the year. - This collaboration marks a significant improvement in the working relationship between the county and the city of San Jose. The move follows a period of tension where San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan had previously stated the county was not doing enough to address the homelessness crisis. - The joint effort was formally proposed in September 2025 by County Supervisor Betty Duong and Mayor Mahan to streamline the city and county's separate referral systems into one coordinated process. This integration is intended to close service gaps and deploy limited resources more effectively. - Historically, the county has focused on long-term permanent supportive housing, building over 5,700 affordable apartments through the Measure A housing bond since 2016. In contrast, the city of San Jose has concentrated on rapidly expanding temporary housing options. - According to the county's most recent census data, up to 42% of the homeless population in San Jose suffers from mental health conditions. The new on-site services aim to address this by "meeting people where they are," as stated by Mayor Mahan.
