Committee forwards report urging gender-responsive approaches to unhoused women and girls

The Santa Clara County Children, Seniors and Families Committee on Tuesday voted to forward a report and recommendations from the Commission on the Status of Women to the full Board of Supervisors, asking staff to consider the commission’s proposals on services and data collection for unhoused women and girls.

The commission’s report, prepared with the Commission on the Status of Women and partners including the Santa Clara University International Human Rights Clinic, recommends applying a gender lens to homelessness data, increasing permanent supportive housing for extremely low-income households, expanding safe parking for women, and establishing trauma-informed shelter standards. Nancy Brameau, chair of the commission’s ad hoc committee, told the panel the group had consulted more than 60 organizations and heard from over 50 people with lived experience during a public hearing in March.

Commission representatives and law-school partners described specific recommendations. Gabby Pakula of the Santa Clara University International Human Rights Clinic said vehicle-towing policies disproportionately affect women — particularly survivors of domestic violence and women with children who rely on cars for shelter — and urged the county to lead on city-level towing policies where possible. Wilfred Kramer of the same clinic urged investment in mobile clinics that provide reproductive and mental-health care for women who are unhoused.

Public commenters and the commission asked the committee to direct staff to report back on detailed recommendations in attachment B to the report, which include: guaranteed basic income pilots for survivors of domestic violence, expanded access to trauma-informed legal services and eviction protection, and specialized services for women leaving incarceration. Committee members noted the county is already pursuing related work: the memorandum references Measure A on the November ballot and prior county reports, including a 2018 study produced with Santa Clara University.

Vice Chair Young made the motion to forward the report to the full Board of Supervisors; Chair Arenas seconded. Camille, the clerk, recorded the vote as Vice Chair Young: yes; Chair Arenas: yes. The motion passed.

The committee also asked staff to include the commission’s request that the full board direct departments to report back on attachment B items (shelter standards, safe parking, family-centered trauma-informed services and other targeted investments) and to return with an implementation plan.