The former Pacific Motor Inn in San Jose has ushered in a new era as an interim supportive housing project, a public-private partnership comprising People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and the real estate developer Westbank Corp. It provides much-needed shelter and services for individuals who were previously homeless, as reported by San José Spotlight. Transforming the once bustling motel at 455 S. Second St., the initiative represents the initial step in an overarching plan to revitalize the area into a mixed-income community with 500 housing units planned for development in the coming years.

With this building opening, 72 interim housing units are now available to those in need. This facility is anticipated to reach full capacity shortly, thanks to substantial funding from Project HomeKey and additional financial contributions from the City of San Jose, totaling approximately $44 million. As East Bay Times highlights, the city has experienced a reduction in its unsheltered homeless population by 15% over the past few years, a testament to the benefits of such housing solutions.

As per East Bay Times, San Jose's Mayor Matt Mahan emphasized the importance of mixed-income communities for the health and resilience of the city, "Crowding and marginalizing people of lower income or who otherwise are facing challenges into less resource-rich neighborhoods is a bad thing for all of us in the long run," he stated, "We can do better than that. We will do better than that, and this project represents it." The PATH CEO, Jennifer Dietz, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the whole-person care approach, including mental health care and financial stability resources provided at the facility.

The renovated hotel marks a significant milestone in the city's commitment to addressing homelessness. This was further celebrated in a social media post where Mayor Mahan noted the transition of hotel residents towards permanent housing, "HAPPENING NOW: 10 months ago, we broke ground on a first-of-its-kind project here at Pacific Motor Inn. Today, it is helping dozens of people off the streets and out of homelessness," Mayor Matt Mahan shared on Instagram. The long-term vision features 360 market-rate apartments and 140 units of affordable housing, designed not only to alleviate the immediate concerns of homelessness but also to catalyze a more inclusive and vibrant community for San Jose’s future.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mayor Matt Mahan (@mattmahansj)