A Message from Mayor Matt

• Support June Budget expanding interim housing
• Enforce Responsibility to Shelter initiative
• Oppose state budget cuts to HHAP funding
• Advocate for sustained state commitment to homelessness

• June Budget vote
• Responsibility to Shelter initiative
• Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program funding
• code of conduct update for shelter acceptance

• June Budget vote meeting
• Councilmembers public hearing (tomorrow at 6pm)
• Regional meeting with Mayor Lurie and Mayor Lee

It seems like every time we‘re close to making a little progress, the status quo strikes back. And on homelessness this month, we’re facing a battle on two fronts. Long Story Short... Here’s what you need to know this week — in 20 seconds or less: - We’re under attack on two fronts — and I need your help to fight back. - Mayor Lurie, Mayor Lee and I sat down for the first time — to talk about the region's problems and solutions. Keep scrolling for all the data and details. Dear Neighbor, It seems like every time we‘re close to making a little progress, the status quo strikes back. And on homelessness this month, we’re facing a battle on two fronts. Let’s start with the one closest to home. This upcoming week, we will be voting on the June Budget – which follows through on our push to expand interim housing and get people off the streets faster, implements an initiative that ties pay to performance for elected officials, and updates our code of conduct to include the expectation that when shelter is offered, people living on our streets accept it. These policies are why you elected me to be your Mayor – and I need your help again to take them over the finish line. I’ve heard you, but not all of our Councilmembers can say the same. Let me share with you what they need to know, starting with Tamiko’s story. Tamiko is the president of the Japantown Business Association. And she is supporting our Responsibility to Shelter initiative because she knows people need help. And when they don’t get it, their suffering bleeds into the lives of others. Tom knows all about the suffering Tamiko has seen on our streets. He lived it. And he may not be here today if someone had not intervened and held him accountable for making a change. He is supporting our Responsibility to Shelter initiative because he knows there is no recovery without accountability for many of the people suffering from severe addiction on our streets. Steve knows a thing or two about accountability as the head of our Police Officers Association. Our police officers and firefighters get to know the people suffering the most on our streets by name. They watch them slowly deteriorate without the tools to help them. Our first responders are supporting our Responsibility to Shelter initiative because they know we need more tools to solve the crisis – they know that many of the people on our streets belong in treatment beds, and until they receive the care they need, they will continue to use an outsized share of emergency response resources without actually interrupting the cycle they’ve found themselves in and getting the help they need to return to self-sufficiency. Do you have a story our Councilmembers need to know before they vote? If so, I hope you join Tamiko, Tom and Steve to share your voice on our Responsibility to Shelter proposal and the many things worth advocating for in our June Budget. Your last chance to be heard is tomorrow at 6pm — RSVP here! Continue scrolling to learn about the second battle we’re facing – this time from Sacramento. Sincerely, Mayor Matt In San José, we are doing our fair share when it comes to ending the crisis of unsheltered homelessness in California. If we pass our budget, this year alone we’ll be on track to open over 1,000 new shelter placements – more than any other city on the West Coast — to create a system that will soon offer nearly 1,900 safe, dignified spaces for those living on our streets, mostly through private modular units and converted motel rooms with onsite services. Virtually all of these units have been built in the last few years. This is what action looks like. This is what treating homelessness like a crisis looks like. And I’ve seen fellow big cities begin to do the same. We’re doing our part — and then some. But Sacramento is threatening to take away funding for shelter just as we’ve finally started to see cities take a more pragmatic approach. This year’s proposed state budget currently does not include the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program – which would take $30M from San Jose alone. We use these funds each year to build and operate safe, dignified shelter as an immediate alternative to the streets. Big cities like San Jose have been tasked with solving the crisis of homelessness for the rest of the state. The state does very little directly, and at the local level, we’ve seen big cities like San Jose step up to take on this crisis while, frankly, many of our smaller neighbors and our counties are operating with a business-as-usual mentality. Here’s the hard truth: We can’t do it alone. We’re being held accountable for solving this problem – and rightfully so. But accountability is a two-way street. And we’re here today to hold the state accountable for doing their part. Because if the state eliminates HHAP funding in this year’s budget, 550 people in San José will be pushed back onto the street, reversing all of the progress we’ve made over the last couple of years. People who finally had a warm bed, a door that locks, and a case manager helping them rebuild their lives — all of that will disappear overnight. And neighbors who no longer live next to an encampment will them start growing once again. We all call homelessness a crisis. But if we say it’s a crisis and then threaten to pull back the very resources that are helping us solve it — year after year — then we are not being serious. We’re being short-sighted. And worse, we’re being inhumane. Let me be clear: This is not just about San José. This is about every city that is trying to move faster, house more people, and bring order and safety back to our streets. HHAP is working. Since it launched, it’s helped the state’s 13 largest cities add over 17,000 shelter beds, serve more than 150,000 individuals, and move thousands into permanent housing. If we walk away from that now, we are not just walking away from progress. We are walking away from people. Cities are stepping up. San José is stepping up. Now the state must do the same. We need our partners in Sacramento to extend HHAP funding this year and make shelter and treatment operations a substantial and ongoing commitment of the state. Because if HHAP disappears, our ability to respond to this humanitarian crisis goes with it. Let’s not lose momentum. Let’s not go backward. Let’s not let another 550 people fall through the cracks because of gridlock and budget cuts. Let’s lead. Let’s act like lives depend on it — because they do. If you’re interested in helping me and other big city mayors advocate for these dollars, click here . For the first time, I sat down with Mayor Lurie and Mayor Lee to talk about the region we lead together. I was encouraged to hear them both speak about focusing on the basics — fixing potholes, opening shelter units and restoring some civic pride. I shared a little about how we’re implementing technology and piloting AI solutions to make government more responsive to the needs of the people. We want to be able to catch and solve problems before they even impact you. I’m looking forward to sharing more of what’s working in San Jose and learning from the good ideas of our partners in San Francisco and Oakland. We will truly succeed or fail together as a region — and these days, I have hope that it’s not just San Jose that’s a city on the cusp, but the entire Bay Area. Thanks to the Bay Area Council and their sponsors for bringing us all together. FIFA World Cup: One Year To Go Community Countdown Saturday, June 14th at 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM The Lot at Creekside, 140 South Montgomery Street San Jose, CA 95110 The countdown to the FIFA World Cup in the Bay Area begins! Stop by The Lot at Creekside in San Jose for an immersive Soccer Village experience — perfect for fans, families, and future soccer players of all ages. There’ll be pro player meet and greets, live music (including a Battle of the Bay DJ showdown!), food trucks, soccer scrimmages, and more! RSVP for free entry here . African American Community Services Agency’s Juneteenth: In the Streets Saturday, June 14th at 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM SoFA District, South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113 Celebrate Juneteenth at the African American Community Services Agency’s 44th annual Juneteenth: In the Streets Festival! Enjoy live musical performances, wine tastings from Black owned businesses, and more. Learn more here . 42nd Fountain Blues & Brews Festival Saturday, June 14th to Sunday, June 15th Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113 Get ready for a weekend of music, flavor, and fun — right in the heart of San Jose! The 42nd Fountain Blues & Brews Festival, Northern California’s longest-running blues festival, features 16 incredible musical acts (including headliners Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Walter Trout!), craft beers, great food, and more. The weather is always warm, the beer is cold, and it’s a great way to relax over the weekend. Grab your tickets here ! Stars and Strides Community Run and Walk Saturday, June 28th Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110 Lace up your running shoes for the 5th annual Stars and Strides Community Run and Walk! Whether you’re setting a new personal record or walking with friends and family, you can enjoy the 5K or 10K courses. Each step taken and every dollar raised at "Stars & Strides" benefits Valley Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting the vital work of our five public hospitals and 14 healthcare clinics. Learn more and sign up here . Calling all young professionals! The San Jose Public Library’s Resilience Corps — a paid job training program for young adults who want to explore careers in education, technology, and public service — is hiring for the upcoming academic year. Gain hands-on experience, monthly professional development courses, a competitive wage, and more. If you’re interested in applying, you can learn more here . The Open Space Authority Urban Grant Program is back! Funded by Measure T, this competitive grant program funds projects that bring nature to urban communities. Pre-applications for projects are due on June 26th and full applications are due by October 14th. For more information, including Urban Grant Program guidelines and resources, please visit here . I joined SJPD’s new recruits for their physical agility test — while I passed, let’s just say I’m not planning on quitting my day job any time soon! But I’m thankful to these young people for pursuing one of the most noble careers there is. Over the last two fiscal years, our budget has invested in new recruitment and retention efforts to combat hiring challenges and high vacancy rates. We need more recruits who are dedicated to protecting our community and serving San Jose — if that sounds like you, you can learn more and apply here . Last month, over 100 volunteers came out to celebrate community and beautify their corner of San Jose! We painted utility boxes, planted trees and cleaned up the Basking Ridge neighborhood (all fueled by a pancake breakfast). Want to join our movement for a safer, cleaner city? Sign up for our next clean-up here . Visit our Website! Copyright © 2025 Office Of San José Mayor Matt Mahan, All rights reserved. | 200 E Santa Clara St # 18 | San José, CA 95113-1903 US | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice