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The Face of
Homelessness in Santa Clara County
The
Realities
Each year, more than
20,000 people experience homelessness in Santa Clara County. Of this number, 25
percent are under the age of 18. In the City of San Jose alone, there are
approximately 20,000 to 30,000 households that are at risk of homelessness.
Today the majority
of homeless families are actually working full-time, but they do not earn enough
to afford housing, food, clothing and the necessities of life on one or even two
paychecks.
Right now San Jose
Family Shelter houses single-parent, dual-parent, and working professionals who cannot find
affordable rental housing.
Silicon Valley
rents are among the highest in the nation. There are very few housing options
for those struggling on the edge. Here at the Shelter, it is common to find
families in which one or more
family member is employed, yet they are unable to afford housing of any kind.
The Local Economy
One or even
two minimum wage jobs cannot pay for decent housing in Silicon Valley.
Permanent, skilled jobs paying a living wage are increasingly being replaced
with temporary, part-time minimum wage service jobs, according to the 1999 Santa
Clara County Homeless Survey.
 Housing Crisis
Many
hard-working people are living on the edge of homelessness. One illness, layoff,
disaster, or loss of child care provider can put a family over the edge. Family
Supportive Housing, Inc. is often the only place to stay after other services and
friends have been tapped out. Many families come to the Shelter after living out
of a car.
The Silicon
Valley financial boom has created a severe housing crisis for those without
financial security. Clean, safe, and affordable housing is out of reach for many
families. |
