Overview

• San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's 'Responsibility to Shelter' plan proposes citing or arresting homeless individuals who refuse shelter offers three times within 18 months.
• The San Jose City Council raised concerns about the policy during budget hearings, questioning its cost, effectiveness, and reliance on contested data about shelter refusals.
• Santa Clara County officials have stated they will not detain individuals charged under the initiative, complicating enforcement plans for the proposed policy.
• Homeless advocates and community groups protested outside City Hall, arguing the policy criminalizes homelessness and diverts resources from permanent housing solutions.
• The proposal includes adding 1,400 shelter beds in 2025 and creating a specialized police unit to enforce the policy, with a final budget decision expected in June.