A final vote of 9-2 following an intense debate confirmed the approval of San Jose’s first 40-unit tiny home village. Tiny homes will be established as a way to combat homelessness. Funding and resources will be allocated to developing the village over a yearlong pilot program. Although voting was in favor of approving tiny homes some express concern regarding increasing crime, poor sanitation, and more. Debates persist about where to build tiny home villages to house San Jose’s approximate 4,000 homeless. Residents’ request villages are built as far away from school and residential communities as possible. So where will San Jose build their very first tiny home village?
San Jose ‘s First Tiny Home Village
Debates continue over where the first San Jose tiny home village should be located. The original San Jose tiny home plan was proposed over a year ago. It outlined a way to house up to 25 homeless people using 80-to-140 square-foot cabins or tiny homes. Plans are starting with one San Jose tiny home village and the goal to expand to all 10 City Council districts. Recently released tiny home plans for San Jose included two designs with windows, a small bed, and a locking door. The fact it costs $73,125 for one of forty tiny homes within a village is a sticking point. Perhaps tiny homes could help homelessness along with the roughly 70% of Americans trapped in debt.
Are There Other Solutions for San Jose Homelessness?
Mayor Sam Liccardo is a supporter of Tiny Homes. He expressed the city has, “turned over every rock.” Housing the homeless is a difficult problem to tackle. Many solutions are costly and timely. City staff suggests costs for tiny homes may even decrease using volunteers and less extensive supplies. Tiny homes are a cost effective solution for homelessness that provide shelter, insulation, and electricity. Councilman Raul Peralez volunteered his Downtown San Jose district as a location for San Jose’s first tiny home village.
Could Tiny Homes Negatively Impact The San Jose Community?
The opposing 2 votes came from Councilmen Johnny Khamis and Donald Rocha. They communicated concerns regarding the $2.3 million dollars of funding. Could it be more effectively spent on another project? Other opposing arguments included the long amount of time required and number of people helped.
San Jose, one of our country’s most expensive rental markets, has a homeless population of about 4,000 residents. Some people have expressed concerns regarding homeless people being attracted to tiny homes and tiny home villages.
If these are valid concerns tiny home villages may pose a threat to children nearby, sanitation hazards, and crime increase.
