"November is National Homelessness Awareness Month - a time when we confront the uncomfortable truth that in the richest place on earth, too many people still live without a home. More than 770,000 Americans are unhoused nationwide, the highest number ever recorded. But here's the part we often miss: homelessness is not inevitable. It's not some unsolvable riddle written into our DNA as a society. It's a reflection of choices - and the good news is, we're making better ones here at home."
"Just last week, voters in Santa Clara County made history again by passing Measure A - a local sales tax initiative designed to protect vital services from devastating federal cuts. In a time of polarization and pessimism, that vote was an act of hope. It reaffirmed what makes this community so extraordinary: when Washington turns its back, we turn toward one another."
"The measure is expected to raise more than $300 million annually to sustain and expand programs that keep people housed, provide behavioral health care and connect our neighbors to the stability everyone deserves. It's not flashy. It's not a quick fix. But it's real progress - funded and fueled by us. The passage of Measure A said loud and clear that Santa Clara County believes in community over cynicism."
More than 770,000 Americans are unhoused nationwide, yet homelessness results from policy choices rather than inevitability. Voters in Santa Clara County approved Measure A, a local sales tax projected to raise over $300 million annually to sustain and expand housing programs, behavioral health care, and supportive services. The funding aims to keep people housed, reduce emergency room visits, lower public-safety costs, and improve educational outcomes. Investments prioritize community stability and human dignity. People exit homelessness daily by signing leases, reconnecting with family, finding work, and rebuilding lives, often supported by local services and sustained hope.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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