Santa Clara County spends 122M on services for the homeless where that money goes

Santa Clara County is poised to allocate over $122 million in the upcoming fiscal year for homelessness services, with Abode Services being the largest recipient, managing 15 contracts worth more than $50 million. This funding aims to support the county's 10,711 homeless residents through diverse services, including rental assistance and temporary housing solutions. HomeFirst and the Bill Wilson Center follow as significant providers, managing contracts valued at $20 million and $13 million, respectively. Abode Services CEO Vivian Wan stressed the urgent need to address the root causes of homelessness, as housing costs continue to rise in Silicon Valley. The Office of Supportive Housing employs a competitive contracting process every three to five years to ensure qualified providers deliver these crucial services.

Recent reports indicate that for every household housed, nearly two more fall into homelessness, highlighting the severity of the issue. The county's approach includes geographic considerations, ensuring service providers focus on their core missions. Tracking the effectiveness of these programs remains problematic, with San Jose struggling to implement recommendations from a state audit on homeless support expenditures.