tvc.dsj.org | September 10, 2019
Solving the Housing Crisis Needs People of Faith
By Gregory Kepferle,
Chief Executive Officer
Catholic Charities of
Santa Clara County
We have all heard the outrageous
stories of deteriorated homes selling
for over a million dollars to be torn
down – even as legions of homeless
women and men huddle in tents under
the freeways or sleep in their cars along
the streets, while even college students
are sleeping in their cars. Meanwhile,
middle class workers paying over 50%
of their income in rent are fleeing the
valley for lower priced housing inland
and making long commutes to work,
worsening gridlocked roads. Apart-
ments and single family homes are
crammed with three or more families
sharing the rent. Calls for help finding
housing and rental assistance inundate
overwhelmed social service organiza-
tions, while frail seniors without homes
trudge streets with suitcases or shop-
ping carts.
The data is clear. Homelessness
has increased by 31% in the County
to 9,706 and 42% in San José to 6,097
a night over t he past t wo years,
their housing development commit-
according to the Santa Clara County
ments and have a severe imbalance of
Continuum of Care’s January Point in
jobs to housing.
Time Count for HUD. Chronic home-
In response, the Church is grappling
lessness has increased, as
with solutions rooted
has the number of young
in our faith. Together,
adults and seniors who
Catholic Charities and
are homeless. While pro-
Charities Housing are
“Homelessness
viders are moving more
assisting over 6,000 indi-
has increased
c h ron ically homeless
viduals with housing and
by 31% in the
people into permanent
housing services each
County
to
housi ng, t he number
year. Meanwhile, many
o f p e o pl e b e c o m i n g
parishes are helping re-
9,706 and 42%
homeless is increasing
spond to the crisis of
in San José to
faster than providers can
affordable housing and
6,097 a night
house them.
homelessness with rental
over the past
As the pressure to con-
assistance, utilities, food,
struct more affordable
safe parking and rotating
two years.”
homes increases, some
shelters. Charities Hous-
neighbors who already
ing is building as many
live in homes are pushing
units as quickly as pos-
back (even against housing seniors),
sible to help alleviate the crisis.
incorrectly assuming that affordable
But as people of faith, we can’t just
housing means increased homelessness
leave it to the service providers, volun-
and crime in their neighborhood. Some
teers, and housing developers to solve
cities, highly dependent on business
the crisis of affordable housing. We need
income, are resisting new state laws
to step up and advocate for policies that
that make it less onerous for afford-
support affordable housing. If you are
able housing developers to build in
already serving the homeless, I invite
municipalities that have not fulfilled
you to take the next step and advocate
Housing Sharing Informational Event
to be Held on September 18
Catholic Charities is hosting an upcoming informational session on the
County of Santa Clara’s House Sharing Program. The event will be held on
September 18 from 1 – 3 p.m. at Villa Ragusa in Campbell.
This free event is open to residents of Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale,
Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto and Campbell, and those who work
in the area.
The House Sharing Program is designed to expand affordable housing
options for Santa Clara County residents through the use of underutilized
homes and stability for community members with varying income levels,
such as seniors, persons on fixed incomes, working individuals, transition
youth, students and veterans.
The event will include an overview of the program, panel discussion with
current House Sharing clients, and a discussion with County Supervisor
Joe Simitian. Opening remarks will be given by Lindsey Caldwell, Director
of Emergency Programs and Housing Services at Catholic Charities. Light
snacks will be provided during the event and there will be time for ques-
tions from the audience.
For more information and registration, call (408) 325-5100, ext. 5377 or
visit CatholicCharitiesSCC.org/house-sharing. Registration is limited to
100 people.
This event is sponsored by Bank of America and United Way Bay Area.
COMMUNITY
7
for them. I invite you and your fellow
parishioners, like those from St. Teresa
Parish, to show up at City Planning
Commission hearings and support
the beautiful, safe, affordable hous-
ing developments built by Charities
Housing. If you have a vacant room,
consider offering it at below market to
an individual vetted by Catholic Chari-
ties’ House Sharing Program. Look into
building an Accessory Dwelling Unit
(ADU) in your back yard.
You may have other creative solu-
tions. I invite you to join the community
conversation on solutions to homeless-
ness convened by American Leadership
Forum and the County at the Fair-
grounds on Saturday, September 21.
More than 9,000 of our neighbors
who live without housing desperately
need your help. Please join us. Together
we can change lives for good.
For more information please visit
www.CharitiesHousing.org. To donate
go to www.CatholicCharitiesSCC.org.