Apple will spend millions of dollars on outreach and relocation for residents of a homeless encampment on the tech giant’s property in North San Jose, seeking to address one part of Silicon Valley’s growing, impoverished community that now squats on land owned by the world’s most valuable company.
About 50 or 60 people have been living for months in tents and RVs on the vacant lot on Component Drive, creating a health and safety hazard for the city and the tech giant.
Outreach workers from HomeFirst began meeting with residents this week, assessing needs and offering services funded by Apple, the company said in a statement Friday. Apple expects to spend millions on support services and housing for members of the encampment, but it did not release an exact budget.
In 2019, the company pledged $2.5 billion to boost housing and support services across the state, including backing several affordable housing projects in the Bay Area.
“Apple has long been focused on helping to combat the housing crisis across California and working with partners to support at-risk communities and provide new affordable units,” the company said in a statement. “In San Jose, we have been closely coordinating with local partners for several months to identify housing alternatives and support for families who will be transitioning away from the Component Drive site.”
HomeFirst CEO Andrea Urton said social workers have been visiting and providing support for the community throughout the pandemic. Apple’s funding will provide additional counseling, and long-term relocation and housing assistance. The Milpitas-based nonprofit will also connect residents with healthcare resources and financial counseling.
“Apple is really leading the way,” Urton said. “They could have just displaced people, but they didn’t.”
HomeFirst plans to help move some residents into motels for transitional housing, she said. Social workers will continue to provide services for community members, including addiction, health and wellness counseling. Eventually, the agency expects to find permanent rental housing for the residents through a network of landlords in Santa Clara County.
Despite the extreme shortage of affordable apartments in the Bay Area, HomeFirst has found housing for about 700 housing insecure people this year, Urton said.
Apple has committed funds to fighting homelessness and addressing the region’s housing crisis in recent years. It promised $50 million over five years to Destination: Home, a housing nonprofit addressing homelessness in Santa Clara County and the Bay Area
The Component Drive encampment sits on a portion of 64 acres of undeveloped land owned by Apple. The city estimates the site contains 200 tons of hazardous debris, including as many as 75 vehicles. A grass fire swept through the property this week, burning five acres of vegetation and an RV.
Apple has earmarked part of the property for an affordable housing development, and has been in discussions with San Jose about the project. The company expects to start office construction on the site in the near future.
San Jose officials say they are working with the company to tell residents about the need to clear out the encampment.
Apple and city leaders have discussed affordable housing plans for the site. Apple suggested plans for tiny homes on the site, but the project was never formalized.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said the city supports the company’s efforts to build affordable housing on the site “but that requires finding a solution for the people currently encamped there.”
