The mayor of San Jose is defending his plan to potentially jail homeless people who refuse to go to city shelters. Mayor Matt Mahan unveiled his proposal during a City Council budget meeting Monday. His plan would allow the city to issue citations and even jail time to unhoused residents who refuse shelter or services up to three times.
Mahan says San Jose already spends millions of dollars to clear out homeless tent encampments and says targeting those who repeatedly refuse housing help could ultimately lead to those people truly getting the help they need. Homeless advocates aren’t thrilled by the proposal, calling it cruel and ineffective.
