San Jose to Clear Large Homeless Encampment
The city of San Jose plans to dismantle Coyote Meadows, one of its last large homeless encampments, by mid-April. Officials will offer resources and alternative housing options to residents of the encampment, which is located on city-owned land. The site has been a long-standing concern for the city.
- The Coyote Meadows encampment is located on a site previously known as "The Jungle," which was once considered one of the largest homeless encampments in the United States before it was cleared in 2014. - The clearing is part of a larger effort to address environmental concerns along Coyote Creek, as the city is required to reduce pollutants in the waterway to comply with its stormwater permit. - City staff are conducting a 50-day outreach effort to the encampment's approximately 100 residents, offering connections to interim housing and other social services. Notices are being provided in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. - The recent opening of the Cerone Interim Housing site is expected to provide some of the additional capacity for those being relocated from Coyote Meadows. - Following the clearing, the area will be designated a permanent "No Encampment Zone" to prevent resettlement. - A coalition of community groups, including Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, has been advocating for the transformation of the 50-acre Coyote Meadows area into a public park with trails to connect surrounding neighborhoods and parkland. - San Jose's broader strategy for homelessness involves a significant budget allocation, including the redirection of funds from Measure E, a real estate transfer tax, towards interim housing solutions. - Non-profit organizations like HomeFirst are actively involved in providing outreach and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness along Coyote Creek.
