The city of Campbell is working with other area cities in a West Valley Homeless Services Implementation Task Force. The task force would involve representatives from Saratoga, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga, along with county representatives, institutional stakeholders and select service providers to develop a formal implementation plan and establish measurable goals, define governance structure and financing strategy and monitor its progress.
At its regular meeting on April 1, the Saratoga City Council received a report from the City of Campbell and Good City Company about the needs of unhoused residents. According to a presentation by associate planner Kyle Rathbone, in 2023 there were at least 221 people experiencing homelessness across the five West Valley municipalities. Last year, the point-in-time count increased to at least 255, a 13% jump; in Santa Clara County, homelessness increased by 8% overall. In Campbell, the number of unhoused residents increased by 15%, from 92 in 2023 to 108 last year.
The needs analysis saw that unhoused individuals in the West Valley are more likely to be youth or families with children. They also are more likely to sleep in their car or couch surf than to use shelter beds. There is also a higher domestic violence survivor rate and a lower rate of people with mental, physical and substance use issues. However, Hispanic or Latino, Black and indigenous people were overrepresented in the study in comparison to their overall West Valley populations.
The study concluded with some recommendations, such as sustaining and expanding programs that work, engaging with with people who have experienced homelessness, identifying funding and supporting neighborhood safety and cleanliness.