The City of San Jose is exploring a partnership with San Jose State to provide resources for homeless students, according to a recently released open letter signed by four city council members.
In the document, originally sent to SJSU President Mary Papazian on March 14, Councilmembers Raul Peralez, Maya Esparza, Magdalena Carrasco and Charles “Chappie” Jones cited the CSU chancellor’s office study.
Around 4,300 SJSU students lack housing, which is 13.2 percent of the school, according to the study.
Peralez represents the district that harbors SJSU.
He told the Spartan Daily that students who approached him felt that the school’s administration would feel more pressure to bring more immediate relief to students struggling without a home.
“I don’t care if you’re a student that’s homeless or you’re just a resident of district 3 or anywhere in the city, quite frankly you’re my responsibility,” said Peralez.
The university released the following statement regarding the city’s letter:
“San Jose State University remains committed to partnering with the City of San Jose, students, and the community to identify and implement sustainable, long-term solutions that address student housing needs.”
For Peralez, students struggling without a home is just another element he said his office is examining in their work to relieve homelessness in San Jose.
“The biggest issue I work on in my office is homelessness,” Peralez said. “But there’s a focus right here in downtown, here in San Jose.”
In the past, councilmembers and students have criticized SJSU for lacking certain resources.
While the city amended its zoning code in February to allow for safe parking programs, SJSU rejected the Student Homeless Alliance’s demands for such a program in the 7th Street garage, earlier this month.
According to Student Homeless Alliance leaders, Papazian cited the program as too expensive for the university to implement.
“Well [Papazian] turned down the Safe Parking program here at San Jose State, which the city of San Jose’s parking ordinance would allow them to do that,” Esparza said in an earlier interview, before the city’s letter was made public.
Funds have been set aside in the City of San Jose’s new budget for 50 safe parking spaces at the Roosevelt Community Center on Santa Clara Street.
“Whether the school does or does not do [safe parking], we are doing it,” Peralez said.
SJSU has pointed to SJSU Cares, an emergency relief program for students experiencing sudden food or housing insecurity, as their best option for immediate assistance.
“We really want students to contact us, If they are going through housing insecurity, food insecurity, just to make they are going through the SJSU Cares program,” said Mayra Bernabe, president of the Student Homeless Alliance. “It’s easier to talk to another peer instead of administration.”
Bernabe is hoping that the Student Homeless Alliance can encourage students to reach out to SJSU Cares.
“We have students who are contacting us that are couch-surfing, that don’t have enough to make next month’s rent,” Bernabe said.
These monthly dues are why Bernabe said immediate assistance is necessary .
“There’s no excuse to not do or come up with a solution,” Bernabe said. “Because the city is willing to provide financial support.”
Bernabe said the city’s support is a sign to that the Student Homeless Alliance and students without housing are not alone.
“Just in general this statement has created an opening, a new opening of hope, and just kind of revived our demands,” Bernabe said.
