South Bay leaders eye collaborative effort to improve public safety in downtown San Jose

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong are collaborating to tackle homelessness and public safety concerns in downtown San Jose. At a recent town hall, they outlined plans to provide wraparound services to 30 to 40 individuals identified as frequent users of hospitals and jails due to mental health and substance use issues. Duong, a downtown resident, shared her personal experiences with homelessness, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The officials noted that Santa Clara County's homelessness has surged to over 10,700 individuals, with 7,472 unsheltered, and San Jose's homeless population has increased to 6,503. They expressed frustration with the current system, which often releases individuals back into the community without adequate support.

Both Mahan and Duong are eager to develop a collaborative framework that can be expanded throughout the county. Additionally, Duong raised concerns about a potential $1 billion loss in federal health care funding that could impact local hospitals and clinics. They aim to initiate a reset in how the city and county address homelessness and public safety.