NEWS RELEASE: San José Showcases Solutions and Challenges to Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness and Keeping Creeks Clean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Christina Warren, Senior Public Information Representative, Environmental Services Department 408-477-4705; [email protected] San José Showcases Solutions and Challenges to Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness and Keeping Creeks Clean SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board Staff Learn How the City is Protecting Waterways SAN JOSE, Calif. (September 25, 2025) - Last week, the City of San José hosted the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Region 2) staff to show the City's leadership and continued progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness along its waterways. The visit highlighted how San José is meeting the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit Direct Discharge Trash Control Program (Direct Discharge) Plan that Region 2 approved in June 2024. This meeting was part of the quarterly check-in for the Water Board-approved Direct Discharge program. During the meeting, the City showcased its progress towards reducing environmental impacts on waterways and limiting biowaste discharge in storm drains. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Water Board designated San José's Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek as "Impaired Water Bodies" because of the levels of trash, pesticides, and mercury in those waterways. The City of San José received authorization to implement its Direct Discharge Plan under the NPDES permit last year, with specific requirements to address trash and biowaste in creeks and storm drains. The primary sources of the trash are homeless encampments and illicit dumping in the waterways. Like many large cities, San José faces significant challenges with homelessness. Since August 2024, the City's Housing Department has opened nine interim housing sites and safe parking locations and is on track to open four more in the coming months. These sites are part of the City's Housing Continuum, a model that connects shelter and housing services to help San José reach functional zero. San José, and housing partners, is addressing homelessness with compassion and action with short-term and long-term solutions, including temporary shelters, hygiene (showers, laundry), supportive services, and permanent housing. "With care and compassion for our unhoused residents, our City works as One Team, with multiple partners to restore public spaces for everyone to enjoy," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "We remain committed to addressing unsheltered homelessness while improving neighborhoods and waterways by reducing litter and trash in creeks and storm drains to meet clean water targets." Water Board staff toured the waterways identified for cleanup under the plan and visited the Cherry Emergency Interim Housing site, built in partnership with Valley Water. In the 2024 and 2025 surveys along 26 miles of the waterways, it was estimated that at least 1,236 people experiencing homelessness lived in the survey areas. Since June 2025, San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services BeautifySJ Encampment Management Program has designated 16 miles of waterways as No Encampment Zones, which are proactively patrolled to prevent encampments from returning. BeautifySJ will target a total of 26 miles of waterways as No Encampment Zones by June 2026. Last year, BeautifySJ removed more than 1800 tons of trash and debris through escalated cleanups, abatements, and regular collection at encampments along waterways. "One year ago, we committed to addressing the severe degradation of our waterways, driven largely by unsafe, unmanaged encampments," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "Today, we've sheltered hundreds of residents, preserved our progress by enforcing no encampment zones, and are on track to open more than a thousand new shelter placements this year - because we're serious about our environment and we're serious about ending the era of encampments." "We value our natural resources and are taking steps to preserve them. By addressing homelessness, we are reducing sources of trash and biowaste," said Environmental Services Department Director Jeff Provenzano. "On average, 88% of trash found in San José creeks is due to illicit dumping near unhoused communities." Water Board Executive Officer Eileen White said, "San José is leading the way in controlling trash to improve water quality and addressing unauthorized dumping and homeless encampments - these efforts, including the City's substantial coordination with key players like Valley Water and social services agencies, not only make major strides in improving water quality, but also recognize the opportunity to improve the lives of those struggling to find housing by providing interim housing, permanent housing, and support services." San José is geographically large, with jurisdiction over 180 square miles and approximately 130-miles of waterways that include the Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek Watersheds flowing northward to the South San Francisco Bay. Storm drains collect runoff from both overflowing irrigation water and rain from streets and parking lots that flows to an underground storm drain system through approximately 35,000 inlets in San José, which all flow to a creek or river. The NPDES permit regulates pollutant discharges from point sources to California's surface waters and is overseen by the Water Board. Due to damaging unhoused activities on water quality and waterways, the Water Board, through resolutions and permit requirements, has focused on addressing discharges associated with homeless encampments and their impact on water quality throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and state. About the City of San José With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California's largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. About the Environmental Services Department The San José Environmental Services Department (ESD) manages garbage and recycling services; watershed protection and pollution prevention; municipal drinking water and recycled water; sustainability initiatives; and the operation and infrastructure improvements of the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF). ESD's mission is to deliver world-class utility services and programs to improve our health, environment and economy. It is one of the largest City departments with about 600 staff members, a $470M operating budget, and a $2B 30-year RWF Capital Improvement Program. About the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board is charged with protecting water quality throughout the San Francisco Bay Area on behalf of the U.S. EPA, and implements both the federal Clean Water Act and California Water Code. It is part of the State and Regional Water Boards, which are responsible for protecting water quality statewide. ###