San Jose approves low‑barrier safe parking site at Variesa Road; city says registration and insurance not required

The San Jose City Council approved the consent calendar on Jan. 14, which included authorization for a new low‑barrier safe parking site on Variesa Road to be operated by nonprofit partner We Hope.

During the consent‑calendar discussion, Councilmember David Cohen asked staff to confirm whether vehicle registration, insurance or other documentation would be required before admission. Eric Sullivan, the city’s Housing Director, replied: “That’s correct. We will not have any barriers. This will be considered low barrier, safe parking management. Registration [and] insurance, we won't have those requirements.”

Nut graf: The approved site is intended as a low‑barrier program that provides a supervised area for people living in vehicles and links participants to services. Staff said the city will provide onsite or referral services aimed at people who want to transition to permanent housing and will help with vehicle registration post‑admission where needed.

Councilmember Cohen asked whether the operator, We Hope, will assist people who want to retain their RVs while moving into longer‑term housing or mobile‑home park options. Sullivan said the vendor contract requires comprehensive services that include assistance for people seeking permanent housing and options to join established mobile home/RV communities when appropriate. He cautioned that prior sites had low take‑up for such transitions but said the city will continue to provide and encourage those services.

Ending: The consent calendar — including the Variesa Road safe parking authorization — passed unanimously. The council recorded no public comments on the consent items during the meeting.