San Jose Opens First Safe Sleeping Site Amid Columbus Park Homelessness Cleanup

San Jose is opening its first Safe Sleeping Site on East Taylor Street as part of its broader initiative to address homelessness and clear the sprawling Columbus Park encampment, which was the largest in the area. The site will provide up to 56 tents, including ADA-accessible ones, and serve as a navigation center offering meals, showers, caseworkers, and access to support services aimed at transitioning residents to permanent housing within about 30 days. Mayor Matt Mahan acknowledged the site is not a permanent solution but emphasized it is a significant improvement over living conditions in unmanaged encampments. Community concerns have been raised about safety, fires, and especially heat risks inside the tents, echoing a lawsuit filed by unhoused residents at a similar San Diego site where temperatures reached 110 degrees. Despite some tensions, including confrontations during announcements and criticism from residents displaced by encampment clearings, city officials remain committed to actively managing the site to ensure it remains safe and clean. The initiative is part of a longer-term plan that includes revitalizing Columbus Park with recreational facilities by early 2026.