Pedro Street interim housing

Willow Glen Studios on 1185 Pedro Street San Jose by the County of Santa Clara and Sobrato Philanthropies

Pedro Street and other interim housing programs assist the homeless community enrolled in supportive housing programs as they search for a rental or await construction to finish for a supportive housing unit.

While the County’s goal is to permanently house each person as quickly as possible, some supportive housing program participants are unable to move into permanent housing for months. For example, approximately 65 percent of permanent supportive housing program enrollees spend more than 60 days searching or waiting for permanent housing. Until they can move into their permanent home, interim housing programs provide individuals and families with a safe, clean, and comfortable place to live.

In addition to reducing unsheltered homelessness and helping individuals meet their basic needs, Pedro Street will help residents more easily access medical and social services that would improve their health and improve their housing stability and quality of life once they move into permanent housing.

Because these units lack all of the amenities of standard apartment homes, this project is not best-suited as permanent supportive housing units. By and large, Pedro Street will operate very similarly to the County’s other supportive housing developments, which provides individuals with an affordable apartment and on-site support services. What makes this Project “interim housing” or “transitional housing” is that residency at this development is temporary, as residents will transition to permanent supportive housing or use rent vouchers for permanent housing.

Pedro Street operating procedures

This Draft operating plan is intended to be an extension of the standard operating practices to the Property operations plan.

Community Advisory Committee

Abode Services in conjunction with the County’s Office of Supportive Housing will form a Community Advisory Committee.

The CAC will be made up of engaged stakeholders such as neighbors, local business owners, and partner agencies. That CAC will meet Quarterly to review the Pedro Street operations and provide input and feedback from an external perspective to help inform program practices and consider the impact made on the surrounding community.

December 2024 meeting is canceled

CAC meetings will be held quarterly at 6:00 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of the 3rd month of each quarter (March, June, September, December) unless holidays or major events conflict with that schedule.

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Program basics

Pedro Street residents will have their own apartment, sign leases, be subject to apartment community rules as contained in the Operation Plan and contribute a portion of their income to rent.

Eligibility

Pedro Street Apartments serve people who previously experienced homelessness and are currently enrolled in in one of the County’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs. This program provides an interim option of up to 24 months as participants wait to move into a soon-to-open affordable housing development or search for a place to rent.

The priority is to place PSH participants who have been selected for placement at a new supportive housing development that is under construction or pending lease up.

Every resident at Pedro Street Apartments is eligible for either permanent supportive housing in an affordable housing project or a housing subsidy voucher to be used for other housing.

Services at-a-glance

80 people enrolled in permanent supportive housing who need a temporary place to stay until their long-term home is ready
Professional property management
Supportive services, including wellness coordinators
On site activities for residents
Staffed 24 hours everyday

Community Engagement meetings

Related contracts and agreements

For more information
Topic	Contact
Pedro Street day-to-day operations, including property management and supportive services, as well as tenant concerns	Call John Harris, Pedro Street Program Manager Call (408) 767-1666 or email
Site and land use and long-term operating strategy and policy	Call the Office of Supportive Housing (408) 278-6400 Email Supervisor Ellenberg; or call (408) 299-5040

Pedro Street Apartments facts

How many residents	Pedro Street Apartments offers a safe and stable home for approximately 81 formerly homeless neighbors.
Property features	73 single-room-occupancy (SRO) apartments, and eight one-bedroom apartments with private bathrooms A common kitchen, dining hall, recreation room, meeting room, and laundry facilities. With more than 60 parking spots for the 81 residents, this ratio far outweighs other supportive housing parking rations.
Services	Staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by more than 20 full-time employees to support the tenants in property management, maintenance, janitorial, security, and supportive services. Security guards will be on duty all hours of the day, and everyone must pass by a front desk to enter the property. Property managers and service coordinators will participate in neighborhood meetings and can provide answers to questions.
Selection and screening process	Pedro Street Apartments will be available to those enrolled in one of the County’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs. Residents will have their own apartment, sign leases, be subject to apartment community rules as contained in the Operation Plan, and contribute a portion of their income to rent. The priority will go to PSH clients who have been selected for placement at a new supportive housing development that is under construction and/or pending lease up. Property managers, the Housing Authority, or both will do background checks and screen for program eligibility. The Housing Authority screens to exclude sex offenders, felony meth producers, and arsonists. Property managers screen for felonies, although applicants are not automatically declined if they have a felony on their record.
What tenants can expect	Tenants will pay based on their income, and the balance of their rent, if any, will be subsidized. Tenants will have their own apartment, sign leases, be subject to apartment community rules, and contribute a portion of their income to rent. The interior of the apartments have new paint and flooring. Rooms have basic furniture, including a bed, dresser, nightstand, table, and chair. There are offices for services and program management. The exterior of the building will remain largely unchanged. The expected length of stay will vary for each tenant. Everyone living at Pedro Street Apartments is eligible for either permanent supportive housing in an affordable housing project or a housing subsidy voucher to be used for other housing, so we expect that there will be normal turnover as residents explore these other housing options.
Pedro Street property history	The property on Pedro Street was built in 1977 as an adult residential care facility and operated as one for 40 years until 2017. As an adult residential care facility, the property was built with 73 single-room-occupancy (SRO) apartments and eight one-bedroom apartments. This became a vacant development that sat empty for more than two years. Because the County is redeveloping an existing residential building, it can be brought on-line much more quickly and at a fraction of the cost of a new apartment building.
Funding	Pedro Street Apartments is leveraging more than $8 million in private funding, and significant federal and state grants to help the County pay for ongoing operations. Roughly 80 percent of operating expenses during the first 10 years will be covered by outside funding sources.
Project manager and supportive services	Abode Services is the manager of the Project. Abode administers focused, nonjudgmental care centered on positive socialization, community participation, and housing stability. Services are designed to positively impact those who have experienced homelessness in the past. More details below under "Supportive services."

Supportive services provided by Abode Services

Committed to evidence-based practices, Abode is a leading practitioner of Housing First and is committed to the principles of harm reduction and self-determination.

Abode provides services to promote positive outcomes for tenants, tenant communities, and their surrounding neighborhoods. Abode recognizes that community building is an essential part of the services offered to tenants and will strengthen both the residence and neighborhood. Community building in and around supportive housing settings is a recommended practice by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development because empowering tenants to impact their living environments, also empowers them to take action in other areas of their lives, such as work, family, and health. Furthermore, the neighborhood benefits by becoming a more inclusive, friendlier environment with increased mutual support, sharing, and mechanisms for promoting common interests and addressing problems.

Housing First: The model is an approach designed to quickly and successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing. Supportive services are offered to maximize housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness. Abode was an early adopter of the Housing First philosophy and has fully integrated Housing First principles into its programs and into the structure of its organization.

Harm reduction: The Abode team focuses on reducing the negative consequences of drug and alcohol use, helping participants to manage the symptoms of untreated mental health disabilities. The team supports each participant to define his or her own goals, approaching their recovery on their own terms. The Abode team works to create a community, which is safe for residents and staff and supportive of resident recovery.

Self-determination: Abode’s service plan places the resident at the center of the care planning process. Its philosophy believes that - people experiencing homelessness are capable of defining their own goals.