Conditions have deteriorated San Jose set to clear Columbus Park encampment again

San Jose will clear the Columbus Park encampment by October, where over 80 vehicles and RVs currently shelter homeless individuals. City officials, including Amanda Rodriguez, cite deteriorating conditions that have made the area unsafe. Gabrielle Aguirre, a resident, expressed her distress about the sweep and the absence of housing offers. Following the clear-out, the city plans to create a park featuring synthetic soccer fields and recreational courts. Although the city aims to add more than 1,400 shelter beds this year, this number falls short against the roughly 5,500 unsheltered individuals.

Critics, including Todd Langton from Agape Silicon Valley, challenge the narrative that all unhoused people refuse shelter. Columbus Park was previously cleared three years ago due to federal funding threats related to its proximity to the airport. The city will implement no encampment zones to prevent residents from returning after the sweep.