HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 04 2026 - Item 8.2 - Debra Townley1
Stefan Mercer
From:Debra Townley <debragtownley@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, May 4, 2026 9:08 AM
To:All Council Members
Subject:EXTERNAL - Item 8.2 Homeless Encampment on 6th Street, May 4th, 2026
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
Dear Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,
Camp Hope Works
It has been almost 6 months since an 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 permitted to continue for an additional 3 months following pleas from
the public to the Gilroy City Council. We are now more than two months into that extension.
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 for 1 has
been enrolled in the housing queue and is at earlier stages in the process. Unhoused people from
elsewhere in the community have moved in when spots become available.
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.
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 someone 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 communicate with them.
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Camp Hope works.
Unlike encampments in the rest of the city, Camp Hope residents have access to port-a-potties and
trash pickup.
The relative stability has made it possible for some people to get jobs and others to follow through with
healthcare needs.
The rules, especially the “no fires” rule, are followed. There have been no calls for the police or fire
departments at this location, although the Quality of Life officers visit frequently to touch base with
people and make sure everything is ok. It is far less time-consuming for them to interact with 25 people
at one location rather than spread out all over town.
Last week a team of Camp Hope residents did a cleanup of the camp and surrounding areas. They have
been trying to be good neighbors.
I ask the City Council to extend Camp Hope until permanent housing is available for the people in
crisis there. This will help move more people into housing, keep tents from popping up all over the
city, and help people build their own strength and resiliency.
Thank you,
Debra Townley