San Jose Reduced Outdoor Homelessness by 32 Percent

Mayor Matt Mahan presented the city's housing progress at the fourth annual End Homelessness Summit in Carlsbad.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Remote Work

Isometric editorial illustration of a modular housing unit in a clean urban setting, representing municipal housing development strategies. — San Jose officials reported a 32% reduction in outdoor homelessness over 18 months, largely through the deployment of 2,200 beds in interim housing facilities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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San Jose has reduced the number of people living outdoors by 32% over the past 18 months by moving 1,700 individuals into a 2,200-bed shelter system. Mayor Matt Mahan shared these results at the fourth annual End Homelessness Summit, highlighting the city's reliance on interim housing and increased outreach.

Why it matters

The strategy highlights a shift toward prioritizing interim housing units and consistent data collection as key levers for addressing homelessness. These efforts come as nearly half of the homeless population in California continues to face behavioral health or substance use challenges.

San Jose has moved 1,700 people into housing and established a 2,200-bed shelter system consisting of private units. Currently, 3,700 individuals remain living outdoors, while nearly half of California's homeless population struggles with behavioral health or addiction.

The players

Matt Mahan

He is the Mayor of San Jose who has championed the use of interim housing and data-driven policies to address homelessness.

Catherine Blakespear

She is a member of the California State Senate who hosted the summit and has secured significant state funding for regional homeless services.

The details

San Jose officials credited their progress to the implementation of no-camping zones and active law enforcement outreach alongside the development of temporary housing. Senator Catherine Blakespear, who hosted the summit, also noted that while legislative efforts like Senate Bill 967 and Senate Bill 866 failed to pass, state funding was secured for regional navigation centers and landlord incentives.

The fourth annual End Homelessness Summit was held in October 2026.
San Jose's reduction efforts took place over the preceding 18-month period.
Mayor Matt Mahan is scheduled to visit the San Diego area in late October 2026 for further meetings.

Market Landscape

The failure of Senate Bill 967 regarding interim housing highlights the ongoing legislative friction surrounding state-level support for local homelessness initiatives. This disparity between successful municipal models and stalled statewide policy continues to shape the regional landscape for housing services.

Residents may see an increase in local law enforcement outreach and the enforcement of no-camping zones as part of the city's current housing strategy. These shifts in municipal operations are designed to transition the unhoused into the city's 2,200-bed shelter system.

The takeaway

Effective homelessness reduction appears linked to the integration of immediate interim housing with consistent data monitoring and outreach. Local authorities remain focused on addressing behavioral health barriers to ensure these housing gains are sustainable for the long term.

What happens next

Mayor Matt Mahan is scheduled to travel to the San Diego area in two weeks to continue discussions with local officials regarding regional homelessness initiatives.