Facts about Homelessness in Santa Clara County
Fact - Santa Clara County homelessness is the fourth worst in the nation. According to the 2023 Point-In-Time (PIT) count -- the U.S.'s very imperfect biannual homeless survey and census -- there are 9,903 unhoused residents in Santa Clara County. The reality, however, is that this figure is likely much higher due to "hidden homelessness" and the many challenges associated with counting people living in vehicles and hard to access locations.
Fact - 75% of unhoused residents in Santa Clara County are also unsheltered (living in parks, vehicles, etc.). This is the highest rate of unsheltered homelessness in the nation and is due to a severe lack of affordable housing and shelter space in the county.
Fact - Due to exorbitant costs of living in Santa Clara County and minimum wage rates not keeping pace with inflation and rent burdens, minimum wage workers in the region must work 3.7 full time jobs to afford median rent for a two-bedroom apartment (a stunning $3,100/month in San Jose!) at the recommended allocation of no more than 30% of one's total living expenses spent on housing costs.
Fact - As a result of this market imbalance for low-wage workers in Santa Clara County, for every one resident that becomes housed, another 1.7 fall into homelessness. This depressing reality is again the result of a severe lack of affordable housing, stemming largely from decades of housed neighbors voting "NO" on affordable housing measures in their communities.
Common Myths and Truths
Myth - People become homeless primarily because they have issues with alcohol and drugs.
Truth - According to the 2023 Santa Clara County Point-in-Time count (PIT), 24% of respondents stated that the primary condition leading to their homelessness was loss of a job, while only one of every ten respondents (11%) attributed their homelessness primarily to alcohol or drug use.
Myth – Unhoused people flock to California from around the country because of the great weather and progressive policies.
Truth - 85% of those counted as homeless in Santa Clara County in the 2023 PIT were residents of Santa Clara County when they lost their housing. More than half (54%) have lived in the county for ten years or more.
Myth - People who are unhoused are lazy, irresponsible and don’t want to work.
Truth - Neighborhood Hands participants are eager to work. In response to an August 2022 survey, 83% indicated they wanted more park cleaning opportunities than current funding allowed. 39% of respondents stated they are willing to travel over one hour to attend Neighborhood Hands park cleanings. More than three-quarters of respondents had attended the program more than ten times. When opportunities are available, our unhoused partners want to take advantage of them!
Myth - All people experiencing homelessness are mentally ill.
Truth - Of those responding to a 2023 PIT question about psychiatric and/or emotional health conditions, only one of every three respondents (277 individuals) indicated they had such conditions. In the June 2023 CASPEH state-wide study of California homelessness from UCSF, two of three respondents indicated that they were currently experiencing mental health conditions. Such illnesses largely go untreated; “Only 18% had received non-emergent mental health treatment recently; 9% had received any mental health counseling and 14% any medications for mental health.” (CASPEH)
Myth - Most unhoused people are dangerous or have criminal backgrounds.
Truth - It is more likely that someone who is experiencing homelessness is a victim of violence rather than a perpetrator of violence. “Nearly three quarters (72%) experienced physical violence in their lifetime; 24% experienced sexual violence. Sexual violence was more common among cis-women (43%) and transgender or nonbinary individuals (74%).” (CASPEH)
Myth - Homelessness impacts single adults, but not families.
Truth - Of the 9,903 persons counted as homeless in the 2023 PIT, 1,226 (12%) were people in families. Nearly another 8% (764) were unaccompanied youth.
What You Can Do
1. Vote YES on affordable housing measures in your community and encourage others to do the same!!!! Lack of affordable housing is the number one factor propelling the homeless crisis!
2. Recognize that the vast majority of low-income earners in Santa Clara County are living on the brink of homelessness. 61% of Americans currently live paycheck to paycheck. In places like Santa Clara County, that figure is certainly much higher due to the exorbitant cost of living. The hard reality is most are one life event (an unexpected car repair, health issue, breakup, etc.) away from being unable to afford next month's rent.
If you are an employer, consider paying a living wage or housing wage to your workforce to ensure you are not unknowingly keeping your neighbors is a highly precarious financial situation. Do the math for your lowest paid workers. And then take a moment to ask them what it's like living on the wages you currently pay. You might be shocked, but asking the question could literally be the difference between your employee sleeping at home or on the streets.
3. Make an effort to get to know your unhoused neighbors. They are someone's son or daughter like you and me. The major difference: Life has thrown them a few more lemons or they have simply lost the game of musical chairs which is the current housing situation in Santa Clara County. Nonetheless, they need compassion, encouragement, opportunities, and social connection, as we all do to survive and thrive in this difficult life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you just clean parks? Or do you beautify other public spaces as well?
A: Past iterations of Neighborhood Hands programming have cleaned everything from off-ramps to intersections to street corners. As our organization has matured, however, we’ve come to realize the differentiated potential of our park-focused, community-based outreach model, and the wonderful work Downtown Streets Team is already doing related to homeless street cleaning. Because nonprofits should be complementing each others’ work, our vision is to expand our outreach programming at parks and utilize the expertise of strategic partners to provide holistic support (including assistance in finding interim and affordable housing) which meets our clients' many needs.
Q: You mention social connection and community as notable elements of your homeless outreach model. Why are these important?
A: People experiencing homelessness often suffer from extreme social isolation, loneliness, and stigma. This is partially due to our society's 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' ethos, which unfortunately adds to the common misconception that homelessness is largely a personal failure as opposed to a societal failure. (To be very clear, the growing homeless crisis in Silicon Valley and other entrepreneurial hubs across the U.S. is a societal failure.). To cope with feelings of loneliness, it’s not uncommon for unhoused people to abuse substances to numb their pain. Unfortunately, this often leads to or furthers addiction, which can significantly prolong homelessness.
New research in addiction science is clear that one of the best ways to combat substance use disorder—regardless of housing status—is connection. Without connection, we lose both purpose and meaning in our lives. (Read the U.S. Surgeon General's April 2023 Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.)
Unfortunately, opportunities for genuine in-person connection are in shorter supply in our post-COVID world. While we’re more connected than ever online, the downside of our tech-heavy, post-pandemic way of living includes the erosion of empathy and the sobering prediction that loneliness will likely become the predominant human condition of the 21st Century.
In our own small way, Neighborhood Hands humbly aims to address these macro trends by providing an opportunity for everyone in the neighborhood to connect with those who need it most at a convenient time every week in a made-for-fun space.
Q: I love what your organization is doing! How can I help?
A: Make a recurring monthly donation so we can expand our program and come volunteer with us!
Q: Do you just clean parks? Or do you beautify other public spaces as well?
A: Past iterations of Neighborhood Hands programming have cleaned everything from off-ramps to intersections to street corners. As our organization has matured, however, we’ve come to realize the differentiated potential of our park-focused, community-based outreach model, and the wonderful work Downtown Streets Team is already doing related to homeless street cleaning. Because nonprofits should be complementing each others’ work, our vision is to expand our outreach programming at parks and utilize the expertise of strategic partners to provide holistic support (including assistance in finding interim and affordable housing) which meets our clients' many needs.
Q: You mention social connection and community as notable elements of your homeless outreach model. Why are these important?
A: People experiencing homelessness often suffer from extreme social isolation, loneliness, and stigma. This is partially due to our society's 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' ethos, which unfortunately adds to the common misconception that homelessness is largely a personal failure as opposed to a societal failure. (To be very clear, the growing homeless crisis in Silicon Valley and other entrepreneurial hubs across the U.S. is a societal failure.). To cope with feelings of loneliness, it’s not uncommon for unhoused people to abuse substances to numb their pain. Unfortunately, this often leads to or furthers addiction, which can significantly prolong homelessness.
New research in addiction science is clear that one of the best ways to combat substance use disorder—regardless of housing status—is connection. Without connection, we lose both purpose and meaning in our lives. (Read the U.S. Surgeon General's April 2023 Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.)
Unfortunately, opportunities for genuine in-person connection are in shorter supply in our post-COVID world. While we’re more connected than ever online, the downside of our tech-heavy, post-pandemic way of living includes the erosion of empathy and the sobering prediction that loneliness will likely become the predominant human condition of the 21st Century.
In our own small way, Neighborhood Hands humbly aims to address these macro trends by providing an opportunity for everyone in the neighborhood to connect with those who need it most at a convenient time every week in a made-for-fun space.
Q: I love what your organization is doing! How can I help?
A: Make a recurring monthly donation so we can expand our program and come volunteer with us!