SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — San Jose continues to clear out the largest encampment in the South Bay, moving residents into a safe and supportive housing.
On the week of August 22, two hotels converted to interim housing opened with priority given to those moving from Columbus Park.
It has been two-and-a-half years since Juanita Macias and her husband lived indoors.
We have followed their journey through homelessness after they left with no other choice than to live in Columbus Park in a broken down RV.
MORE: San Jose removes over 100K pounds of trash from Columbus Park encampment cleanup
A longstanding homeless encampment at San Jose’s Columbus Park is being cleared piece by piece.
But now, that all changes.
“Today is the last day that you’re going to be living in Columbus Park, how does that feel?” ABC7 News South Bay Reporter Dustin Dorsey asked.
“I feel great!” Macias said. “I never thought that we were going to be like this and it was hard. It’s still hard, but now that I’ve got a place that I’m going – thank God!”
MORE: SJ begins clearing largest encampment; all its residents to be prioritized for interim housing
Welcome to the Bristol, San Jose’s newest hotel conversion project.
It is one of 9 locations the city has leased to house the unhoused.
The 47 rooms are being prioritized for families moving out from Columbus Park.
“We have sufficient supply to offer everyone the opportunity to come indoors and based on the timing of when they accept that, is when they move in,” San Jose Housing Director Erik Soliván said.
The hotel’s operator, HomeFirst, showed us around on Friday.
Amenities offered include, single and double rooms with private bathrooms, access to services and a full kitchen upstairs – with two meals a day offered to residents.
“We’re really looking forward to creating a community advisory committee, where we can bring the neighbors in and help work with the kids, and the moms, and the families, to create, really, a family environment,” San Jose City Councilmember Pam Foley said.
It represents a safe alternative to the park, but the clean-up has not come without challenges.
MORE: San Jose leaders push to crack down on ‘vanlords’ exploiting the unhoused
Advocates tell me they are not being given proper access to assist those being moved out.
It may not happen easily, but Mayor Matt Mahan says he’s proud of the work the city is doing.
“Today we are at 39% sheltered, and by the end of this calendar year we expect, for the first time in memory, to be over 50% sheltered,” Mahan said.
More than 65 members of local families are expected to fill the Bristol Hotel by weekend as the cleanup of Columbus Park continues through October.
Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Duncan Meyers, founder of BDJOBSTODAY, shares expert career advice, job market insights, and practical tips to help professionals grow and succeed in their careers.
