HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 04 2026 - Item 8.2 - Jan Bernstein Chargin1
Stefan Mercer
From:Jan Bernstein Chargin <jbchargin@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 28, 2026 10:50 AM
To:All Council Members; Mayor Greg Bozzo
Subject:EXTERNAL - Please extend Camp Hope
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
I have just learned that the city will be tagging Camp Hope TODAY for abatement on May 12. If this
happens it will disrupt the housing process for the people staying there, as well as making the work
harder for service providers and the city’s Quality of Life Officers.
What plans has the city made for the disruption of this camp? Where will people go? When the City of
San Jose recently abated their large encampment, “the Jungle” it followed months of preparation and
planning, outreach, and the creation of a managed encampment area and a tiny home shelter site.
People were offered a place to go. It was not completed in a single day, but over time, as people
transitioned to the new spots.
The City of Gilroy has not prepared in any way for 25-30 disabled individuals to be displaced onto city
streets. Quality of Life officers can only offer people one night of shelter at the armory, and only for up to
3 people per night. People with pets, mobility impairments, or disabilities that require assistance with
activities of daily living are not even eligible for armory stays.
Camp Hope Works
As you know, It has been almost 6 months since the unused, muddy triangle of land bordered by highway
101, Llagas Creek, and the 6th Street Bridge became home to 25 unhoused Gilroy residents. Originally
marked for closure in February, the camp was permitte d to continue for an additional 3 months following
pleas from the public to the Gilroy City Council.
During the extension, 5 people from Camp Hope have moved into permanent or interim housing. One
more has all paperwork signed and is waiting to be given a move-in date. Everyone else except has been
enrolled in the housing queue and is at earlier stages in the process.
The housing process itself takes months to years, dependent upon the availability of appropriate units,
(which local service providers do not control. )
After the initial screening, called a ViSPDAT, which takes into account the amount of time a person has
been homeless, their age, their disabilities and chronic health conditions, and other life-changing events,
people are entered into the “County Queue” where the most vulnerable are matched with available
housing units.
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Once a person is “called” for housing, they have a limited period of time to produce a variety of identity
and financial documents before they are either assigned their unit or their case is closed out.
Service providers try to help people meet this deadline by arranging transportation, making phone calls,
setting appointments, and keeping people on track. Even so, many run out of time during this process
and have to be re-entered in the queue. One of the key predictors for running out of time is someone that
service providers cannot find. Knowing where people are is crucial to getting them off the street.
Camp Hope makes it possible for people to be found. We know where they are and can find them and
coordinate with them.
Camp Hope works.
Unlike people sleeping in business doorways and under bridges in the rest of the city, Camp Hope
residents have access to port-a-potties and trash pickup. Without Camp Hope, people will still have
sanitation needs, and garbage: and whatever personal challenges they are dealing with. Instead of being
in a contained space, it will he everywhere.
They will lose access to facilities to meet physical needs, their community support system, and the
frequent connection to service providers that comes from being in a consistent place.
The relative stability has made it possible for some people to get jobs and others to follow through with
healthcare needs and for every to make progress towards housing.
It has not been perfect; but it is far better for everyone involved than the alternative— a sweep with no
destination and scattering people in need throughout the city.
Earlier this month a team of Camp Hope residents did a cleanup of the camp and surrounding areas.
Most of them have been trying to be good neighbors.
Please bring this item back to the agenda before taking any action. Especially in light of the newly
approved Ad Hoc Task Force, we should wait for a better plan before destroying something that works.
Sincerely,
Jan Bernstein Chargin
(408) 843-8691