California Construction News staff writer
The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has cleared the way to implement a plan championed by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and his allies to erect 200 tiny home cabins for homeless people on an agency-owned lot in the northern part of the city.
Despite safety and traffic concerns raised by neighbors and VTA staff, the agency’s board of directors unanimously agreed to move forward with the shelters proposed for an empty field near VTA’s Cerone work yard off Highway 237.
“We have thousands of neighbors living outside in unsheltered conditions, which is inhumane and terrible for everyone in the community,” said Mahan, a member of the VTA board, before casting his vote.
VTA will lease 7.2 acres of its Cerone site to San Jose for five years. Homes must be built in a phased approach and the city is required to provide case management, rehabilitation services, food and transportation services for homeless residents.
To address safety concerns over the new site, the city and VTA agreed to meet with neighbors and agency staff regularly to develop security strategies.
