San Jose clears 'The Jungle' again

San Jose began clearing the homeless encampment known as “The Jungle” on April 15 after weeks of outreach, warnings and housing offers tied to Mayor Matt Mahan’s shelter-first strategy. The site, on city-owned land at Coyote Meadows near Coyote Creek and across from Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, had been one of the city’s most visible encampments more than a decade ago before re-forming in recent years. City officials said the latest abatement is meant to close the site for good and keep it from reappearing as a “no encampment zone.” Residents, advocates and some local news outlets have reported that the sweep also exposed gaps between the city’s housing promises and what some people at the camp said they actually received. ### Why is San Jose clearing this site again? Coyote Meadows has been on the city’s cleanup list because it sits along Coyote Creek and must be kept clear to reduce debris and pollutants entering the waterway, according to the city and Mayor Matt Mahan’s office. The City of San José said the abatement began on April 15 and followed a 50-day notice period that included on-site outreach and flyers in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. (sanjoseca.gov) The Jungle became nationally known in 2012, and San Jose cleared it in 2014. City officials and local broadcasters said the encampment later returned, with roughly 100 or more people again living there before this year’s sweep. ### How many people did the city say it could move indoors? (sanjoseca.gov) Housing Director Erik Solivan said in April that the city had identified 109 people at the site and had “identified a bed for all of them.” Most were offered placement at the Cerone interim housing community, a North San Jose tiny-home site, while others were directed to motel-based shelter. The city’s Coyote Meadows FAQ similarly said everyone living there before the abatement began was offered a bed at one of the city’s interim housing locations. (nbcbayarea.com) By May 15, Mahan’s office said 87 Jungle residents had been moved indoors and connected to services during the four-week operation. KRON4 reported that more than 120 people had lived in the encampment. ### Why are residents and advocates disputing those numbers? Maria Vargas, 55, told San José Spotlight that PATH outreach workers had assured her she was on the housing list, but as the sweep began on April 15 she was told there was no placement for her. (ktvu.com) Vargas said a PATH worker told her she had “fell through the cracks,” according to the outlet. (kron4.com) Hector Martinez told KRON4 in Spanish that “they did not help everyone” and said six or seven people were not placed on the housing list. Advocates cited by KRON4 said about 40 residents, many primarily Spanish-speaking, received trespassing tickets and were not included on the housing list. The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley told NBC Bay Area in April that it was concerned some residents would lose service connections when the encampment was broken up. (sanjosespotlight.com) Sarah Fields, a spokesperson for the San Jose Housing Department, told San José Spotlight that the city’s 109-person list included everyone who lived at the Jungle before the sweep began. Fields said people referred after that list closed were being directed to the Taylor Street Navigation Hub to access services and wait for motel or interim housing openings. (kron4.com) ### How does this connect to Matt Mahan’s broader homelessness plan? Matt Mahan has made quick-build interim housing — including tiny homes, converted motels and other temporary shelter sites — a centerpiece of his homelessness policy and his 2026 run for California governor. Spectrum News reported that Mahan has described San Jose’s approach as a model for the state, while KQED reported that the city added 1,319 beds over the last year through a rapid shelter expansion. (sanjosespotlight.com) Jennifer Loving, chief executive of Destination: Home, told KQED that San Jose had succeeded in creating more shelter units, but said the city’s shelter-focused strategy solves only “part of the problem” because people cannot stay in interim sites forever. Spectrum News also reported that Mahan shifted money away from long-term affordable and transitional housing as he expanded quick-build shelter. (spectrumlocalnews.com) ### What happens at the site now? The City of San José said the abatement is expected to take 30 to 60 days, depending on weather and site conditions. Jon Cicirelli, the city’s parks, recreation and neighborhood services director, told local broadcasters the area will be actively patrolled as a no-encampment zone after the cleanup. (kqed.org) As of May 15, city crews had collected more than 290,000 pounds of debris and trash and dismantled 57 structures, according to Mahan’s office. The next public measure of whether the city’s plan is holding will be whether Coyote Meadows stays clear after the 30-to-60-day abatement period ends and whether remaining residents are placed through Cerone, motels or the Taylor Street Navigation Hub. (sanjoseca.gov) (kron4.com)