San Jose Opened Their First Tiny Home Community For The Homeless

By Mayukh Saha / Truth Theory

San Jose, California is where over 6000 homeless people spend their nights under the sky. After years of efforts from social workers and the government bodies, these homeless people will now be a part of a tiny home community.

Back in February 2020, the place was officially opened for the public. It has proper resident services as well as security. Named The Maybury Bridge Housing Project, this tiny home community has beautiful flowers on the walkways. Bicycle racks hang near the doors. Situated at 1408 Maybury Road, the developers have tried their best to bring in a homely atmosphere to make everyone feel welcome. Mayor Sam Liccardo and Governor Gavin Newsom took a tour of the place. It took thousands of volunteers and their years of effort to build this tiny home community.

The project was approved way back in 2018 but was delayed due to legal complications and community pushback. Liccardo and Newsom told San José Spotlight that they would work towards removing such obstacles so that future projects get sanctioned faster. Liccardo acknowledged that while this community would help many homeless people, they still have a long way to go.

San Jose Tiny Home Community Rules

The 80 sq ft homes come with a single bed, shelves, and a desk. Those who wish to move into the homes need to be enrolled in a rapid rehousing program. They need to have a qualifying vulnerability index score, and hold a job, or about to get one.

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Wheelchair users will get slightly larger homes. The Maybury homeless people will be allowed to say in the tiny homes for 60 days. If they wish to continue living after that, they will have to pay an extra 10% of the rent. The rent would be $20, or 10% of the tenant’s income.

The tiny home community will have shared amenities like bathrooms, a kitchen, and a laundry. They can also avail multiple meeting rooms, a computer lab as well as a lounge.

A nonprofit, HomeFirst, San Jose Housing Policy and Planning, and California’s Homeless Emergency Assistance Program all contributed towards building these tiny homes. James Stagi, the administrator of San Jose HPP said each home cost them around $55,00. Finishing the entire community cost them $2.2 million.

“There’s no way we can resolve this crisis unless we are working collaboratively together at every level of government,” Newsom said. “The state vision to solve this crisis will be realized, at the local level — project by project, large and small.”