City of San José Opens Largest Safe Parking Site to Date
Berryessa Safe Parking Site has capacity to serve over 100 people living in unsheltered homelessness, removing over 80 RV’s from stagnation on city streets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2025
Media Contact:
Tasha Dean, Chief Communications Officer, Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
510.612.6488 tasha.dean@sanjoseca.gov
Whitney Prather, Marketing & Communications Director, WeHOPE
650.779.0120 wprather@wehope.org
SAN JOSÉ, CA - The City of San José and WeHOPE are beginning to move those living in RV’s to the largest safe parking site to open in the city to date. The facility, which offers 86 parking spaces for residents and their RVs, began a phased opening on Monday, March 3rd. Already, 10 RV’s housing 15 people have moved into the site from neighboring streets.
“Rows of RVs lining city streets is simply not sustainable — this facility offers a low-barrier path off the streets, and we expect those living in vehicle encampments nearby to take advantage of it,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “We are thrilled to add another safe parking site to the spectrum of solutions we’ve created to end the era of encampments.”
This site, like all new interim housing established by the city of San José, prioritizes local preference, meaning the people living in unsheltered homelessness in a 1.5-mile radius of the site will move in first. In November, city staff conducted a census of the number of lived-in, oversized vehicles on city streets. The final figure stands at 960, meaning this site will serve 9%of the population citywide at a time.
“This safe parking site in Berryessa is a critical step in addressing the challenges faced by both our unhoused neighbors and local residents. It provides a safe, stable place for those living in their vehicles to take a breath, access essential services, and plan for a more secure future. It will also bring vital relief to residents dealing with concerns that arise when people are forced to seek shelter on our streets. I’m proud to see this community-driven solution come to life, and I look forward to the positive impact it will have on Berryessa and beyond,” said District Four Councilmember David Cohen.
“The City’s administration is making progress on the City Council Focus Area of Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “This year, we expect to break ground or open additional sites that include Emergency Interim Housing, hotel leases, safe sleeping, and safe parking sites, including Berryessa. Providing a diverse set of sites ensures we have dignified options for our unhoused community to come off the streets and into a safe location.”
The site not only ensures security for participants but also connects them with supportive services to help them find stable housing and employment. On January 14, the City Council selected WeHOPE — a Palo Alto-based nonprofit with experience operating multiple shelters and a safe parking site — to manage the Berryessa facility. WeHOPE will be responsible for managing the site and providing on-site supportive services, including case management, waste services, site security, meal provisions, and vehicle repair support.
"We are grateful to partner with the City of San José at the Berryessa site. This is an important opportunity to show up for our unhoused neighbors. As service partners, WeHOPE is committed to providing comprehensive case management and supportive services that will help this community move forward on their journey to stability, dignity, and purpose. Our mission has always been about helping people excel, and this partnership allows us to address their needs holistically,” said WeHOPE President & Founder, Pastor Paul Bains.
The city, alongside WeHOPE, will be hosting a grand opening event in early April after the new residents have a chance to settle in. Media is asked to refrain from visiting the site until this event to respect the privacy of those moving in. B-roll of the move-in process available for use can be found here.
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About the City of San José
With nearly one million residents, San José is the largest city in the Bay Area and one of the nation's most diverse and creative. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center in the heart of Silicon Valley has resulted in the world's greatest concentration of technology talent and development.
About WeHOPE
WeHOPE dedicates itself to helping unhoused individuals in the Bay Area become healthy, employed, and housed using innovative solutions. The organization serves five Bay Area counties: Alameda, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Marin.