San Jose Reports 30 Percent Drop in Unsheltered Homeless

San Jose officials report that the city's unsheltered homeless population decreased by approximately 30% to 32% over the last 18 months. Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, attributes this decline to the creation of 1,000 interim housing units, which include tiny homes and converted motels.

To track these changes, the city implemented a new quarterly model developed by UrbanLogiq. This AI-powered system analyzes 15 data points from outreach teams, first responders, and the Department of Transportation. The city estimates the unsheltered population fell from 5,477 in February 2025 to 3,702 in August 2026. Mahan argues this model is superior to the federally mandated biennial Point-in-Time count, which he describes as an inaccurate undercount.

The findings face skepticism from regional authorities and advocates. The Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing stated it has not reviewed the model and cannot verify its validity or accuracy. Additionally, advocate Shaunn Cartwright challenged the data, suggesting the findings reflect a desired narrative rather than the actual conditions on the streets.