New homeless camps pop up in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Residents in South San Jose say homeless encampments have been popping up in places where they've never been seen before.

Residents took their concerns directly to their councilman, who says the issue goes well beyond his district.

Residents in South San Jose say the homeless set up camp in the middle of the night, often along highways and behind commercial buildings.

They say the most troubling encampment is the one right behind their homes near Calero Park, where drug paraphernalia is often left behind, just across the street from where children play.

"They've been having sex and kids come by here every day. On the weekends, they come in on their bikes," said Judy Bender, a San Jose resident.

Neighbors voiced their concerns to councilman Ash Kalra. He says new encampments are popping up in every San Jose district in large part because of last December's shut down of the Jungle, the notorious homeless encampment along Coyote Creek.

Kalra says half received housing vouchers, while the other half dispersed.

"The homeless population has been spread out throughout the city so they're not as concentrated and because of that, there's no doubt that neighborhoods are feeling the impact of homelessness more than they ever have," Kalra said.

Kalra says now that he knows the trouble spots, the city can at least try to offer help, a move that can't come soon enough for people who aren't used to seeing the homeless in their neighborhood.

"We pay a lot of money in property taxes and to have that around here is not pleasant," said Gina Marie Urizer, a San Jose resident.

In the meantime, neighbors have been told to keep their eyes out and to let the city know of new encampments.