As San Jose plans to increase its shelter capacity, community leaders stress the urgent need to invest in homelessness prevention. Councilmember Pamela Campos highlights that current initiatives often neglect families with children, a concerning trend as local student homelessness rises. With the city having only one interim housing community catering to families, Campos advocates for more resources directed at prevention strategies, which have been proven cost-effective. As budget discussions loom, leaders are urging a shift of focus from merely treating homelessness symptoms to addressing its root causes.
With our budget, we have an opportunity to support our families through prevention resources, but families are currently being left out, and the data is clear that the best thing we can do is to prevent homelessness.
Only one of the city's interim housing communities serves that dynamic at a time when at least 2,200 local students are experiencing homelessness and 30% of people living along city waterways are single mothers with children.
Campos has argued for more resources toward homelessness prevention. She noted it has proven to be a more cost-effective method for keeping residents on their feet and off the streets.
It is clear that we must invest more resources into prevention, into addressing the problem at its source, rather than simply treating the symptoms.
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