Residents Fear Increased Crime and Drug Use Near Temporary Housing in San José, But the Evidence Shows Otherwise

San José Mayor Matt Mahan has been pushing to build more emergency interim housing as a cost-effective approach to get unhoused residents off the streets more quickly. It’s intended to be a temporary step toward more permanent housing.

But one big roadblock to building it? Local housed residents, who say they want to see solutions to homelessness…just not in their own backyards.

Episode transcript

Guest: Guy Marzorati, politics and government correspondent for KQED

Links:

• The Bay Survey
• Emergency Calls, Complaints Are Down Near San José’s Temporary Housing Sites. So Why Are They Still So Politically Risky?