San Jose’s First Tiny Home Village on Private Land Quickly Fills Half Its Capacity

San Jose’s latest initiative to combat homelessness, the Via Del Oro tiny home village, is already halfway occupied just days after its opening, signaling a promising start for this innovative approach. This project marks the city’s first endeavor to utilize private land for temporary housing, potentially setting a precedent for future collaborations between public entities and private landowners.

The village, situated on a 2.5-acre parcel in South San Jose, comprises 135 individual rooms, each furnished with a bed and nightstand.Eight units are ADA-compliant, ensuring accessibility for residents with disabilities.Shared facilities include bathrooms and kitchen spaces, fostering a sense of community among residents. The site is pet-friendly, acknowledging the importance of companion animals in the lives of many experiencing homelessness.Nonprofit organization HomeFirst oversees case management and provides three daily meals to residents.

The development was spearheaded by San Francisco-based nonprofit DignityMoves and constructed on land owned by philanthropist John A. Sobrato, who is leasing the property to the city for a nominal fee of $1 annually over the next decade. The project’s construction cost totaled $17.2 million, with annual operating expenses estimated at $2.7 million, equating to approximately $18,000 per bed per year.

Mayor Matt Mahan highlighted the significance of this project as a test case for utilizing private land in addressing homelessness.“We have to keep innovating to make sure that every public dollar goes further and has more impact,” Mahan stated, emphasizing the potential for similar partnerships across the state.

Resident Zachary Plumeau, 29, shared his transformative experience since moving into Via Del Oro. After years of homelessness exacerbated by drug addiction, Plumeau credits the stability provided by the village for his recovery and renewed focus on reestablishing his career as an electrician.“I feel comfortable enough to attack the addiction,” he remarked, underscoring the impact of secure housing on personal rehabilitation.

The city aims to achieve "functional zero" in unsheltered homelessness, where the number of individuals exiting homelessness surpasses those entering it. To this end, San Jose plans to add 1,400 beds or spaces this year, addressing the needs of approximately 5,500 unsheltered residents. Via Del Oro is the fourth temporary housing site inaugurated in the past eight months, contributing to a total of 524 new beds.Other recent additions include the Pacific Motor Inn, the Branham Lane modular site, and the Berryessa safe parking site.Future projects slated for completion include a safe sleeping site on Taylor Street in June, the Cherry Avenue tiny home site in September, and five hotel conversions into shelters later this year.

DignityMoves CEO Elizabeth Funk expressed optimism about the city's trajectory, stating, “There is a finish line. There is a point at which we have enough beds for everyone in San Jose.” The success of Via Del Oro may well serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives, demonstrating the efficacy of public-private partnerships in addressing homelessness.

Sources:

• Chu, Joyce. “San Jose’s First Tiny Home Village on Private Land Already Half Full.” San José Spotlight, April 24, 2025.