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San José council approves joint memorandum with Santa Clara County on homelessness prevention funding

San José City Council · December 10, 2025

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Summary

Council approved a joint memorandum and funding agreement to support the county-run homelessness prevention system; staff and council discussed intake, waitlists, case-management cost averages and outcomes from a Notre Dame cohort study showing over 90% of households avoided further assistance within two years.

The San José City Council on Dec. 9 voted unanimously to approve a joint memorandum and funding arrangement with Santa Clara County for the county‑administered homelessness prevention system.

Councilmembers asked detailed questions about how the program works on the ground. Housing Director Eric Sullivan explained that an initial risk‑based assessment determines entry and placement; the county, as program administrator, tracks contacts, service conversions and waitlist data. Sullivan said the program commonly maintains a waitlist and that the city is an investor rather than the direct administrator of day‑to‑day casework.

Council discussion included averages cited by staff: roughly $8,000 in direct financial assistance per household per participation term and about $5,200 on average in case‑management costs per household (figures described by staff as ‘per participation term’ rather than strictly per year). Council members asked about retention, staff turnover among case managers and how long outcomes are tracked; Sullivan said the program records participant information for up to two years and that a Notre Dame cohort analysis indicated more than 90% of participants did not need additional assistance for two years following intervention.

Councilmembers also requested additional county‑level operational data to better understand weekly capacity, provider waitlists and how staffing changes affect service delivery. Council approved the joint memorandum and asked staff to coordinate follow‑up briefings with the county to provide more detailed operational information.