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San Jose approves navigation hub and five‑motel contracts to expand interim housing
Summary
Council authorized contracts to open a 56‑tent navigation hub on East Taylor Street and to lease five motels as interim housing; city staff said the sites will prioritize high‑risk residents and aim to move people into longer‑term housing.
San Jose City Council on June 17 authorized contracts to operate a navigation hub at 1157 East Taylor Street and to lease five motel properties to provide interim shelter and supportive services. Council members said the strategy is intended to move people off streets and waterways into staffed, service‑rich interim housing and then on to permanent housing when possible.
Why this matters: The city is expanding a system of interim housing that officials say is necessary to reduce encampments along waterways and to connect people experiencing homelessness to medical, behavioral‑health, and housing services. Staff said the contracts are funded in the fiscal 2025–26 budget and will allow a rapid turn‑on of sites this summer.
What the city authorized: The council approved grant/contract authority totaling about $9.26 million: roughly $2.4 million for the Taylor Street navigation hub and $6.86 million for motel operations. HomeFirst was selected as the service provider. The contracts run retroactively from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and include staffing, 24/7 on‑site security, case management, and links to health care.
How the hub and motels will work: The navigation hub will provide a triage space with 56 tents (eight ADA accessible) for people leaving encampments to stabilize, receive intake and services, and be prioritized for motel rooms or other interim options. The five motels total 251 rooms and up to 331 beds, plus optional safe‑parking and tiny‑home places in the broader system. Staff said the motels will not house registered sex offenders and will be managed with access controls, fencing, and site security.
Quotes and service model: Housing Director Eric Sullivan and Deputy Director Cupid Alexander emphasized throughput and accountability. Alexander said the sites will track performance publicly and report on an emergency interim‑housing dashboard. Sullivan and Alexander said the motels will prioritize people with the highest vulnerabilities and work to “move people forward, not just hold them in place.”
Community outreach and timeline: Staff said community outreach took place near the selected motels and the navigation hub; the city is targeting August for initial move‑ins but cautioned dates depend on site work. Councilmembers urged staff to ensure sites are fully ready before opening and to keep neighbors informed. Council approved the contracts unanimously.
Ending note: Council members framed the expansion as a pragmatic, rapid strategy to reduce unsheltered homelessness and to create capacity for longer‑term housing placements. Officials said the city will continue to monitor outcomes and report back publicly.
