San Jose clears largest homeless encampment at Columbus Park

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — The city of San Jose has begun the process of clearing its largest homeless encampment at Columbus Park, aiming to move hundreds of unhoused individuals into temporary housing. The encampment, which has been home to 370 people, is being dismantled as part of a city effort to address homelessness and improve safety.

Abatement notices were issued 70 days ago, and outreach teams have been offering housing and services to residents.

“I feel like it’s an injustice,” said Laylah Jackson, a resident who has lived at the park for 25 years.

Mayor Matt Mahan stated, “Sixty-eight percent of the residents out there have signaled to us that they’re ready for something better.”

The city plans to provide more than 1,000 new beds for the unhoused community as the clearing process continues through October. Mayor Mahan emphasized the dangers of the encampment, noting a homicide last year and a recent death in the park.

“Every day this encampment is allowed to persist, it puts lives at risk,” Mahan said.

Residents who have accepted housing offers will be allowed to stay in the park until their accommodations are ready. However, those who refuse will not be permitted to camp in the park once it is decommissioned.

Laylah Jackson expressed skepticism about the long-term effectiveness of the city’s solutions, fearing that services might only be temporary.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KRON4. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KRON4 staff before being published.