Tag: demographics

San Jose Reports Decreasing Homelessness

4.7% fewer people than a year ago are homeless in San Jose. That is a difference of more than three hundred people. Some data indicates that about five hundred fewer people are presently homeless in San Jose, which would be a greater percentage. The rate of homelessness is similarly decreasing within several other Communities within California. Although the rate of homelessness within all of California continues to increase slightly, the rate of increase is decelerating.

People are always becoming homeless. For now though, in San Jose, this is happening at a slower rate than those who are already homeless are becoming not homeless. Some who were homeless there migrated to regions where rent or purchase of a home is more affordable relative to income. Some procured domestic situations locally. Perhaps fewer are actually becoming homeless to begin with. There are many variables. It is difficult to identify the most likely causes of this trend.

Much of the decreasing rate of homelessness in San Jose is the result of innate socioeconomic variables. Influence of local government and its associated assistance programs are also very important. Again though, there are too many variables involved to identify the most influential among them. Otherwise, other Communities would be more proactive with governmental influence and assistance that is determined to be effective.

This all may seem to be nearly irrelevant here in Felton, where the rate of homelessness has been decreasing for quite a while, and where only a few remain homeless. Yet, it may be quite relevant to the few who remain homeless, or those who could potentially become homeless. If this currently decreasing rate of homelessness is due more to innate socioeconomic variables than to governmental influence and assistance, it will be more likely to eventually influence adjacent Communities, including Santa Cruz County.

What About Everyone Else?

Life is difficult sometimes. It is certainly less difficult for some than it is for others. Nonetheless, no one gets through from beginning to end without some degree of difficulty. Those of us who have experienced significant difficulty may believe that others have better situations, and there are always many who do, but our perceptions of their respective situations really are limited.

Nowadays, many of those who have had better situations than some of us will be experiencing formerly unforseen difficulties. For many, such difficulties will be more stressful than for those of us who have experienced them previously. Most of us crave and strive for stability and security. Many had done well with achieving a better than average degree of stability and security.

So much of that is compromised or challenged now. Some of us with formerly stable employment have been unemployed for quite a while. Some will remain unemployed for a while longer. A few will be without employment to return to. Consequently, some will be unable to pay mortgages, rents and other important bills. Consequences of this are still unknown, but will be severe.

Our minor group has been fortunate for the past many years. So many who formerly lacked homes have procured domestic situations. So many who lacked employment are now lucratively employed. Fewer of us are utilizing the resources that were so helpful to so many more years ago. Fortunately, some of these resources are still available for a different demographic in need.

Hopefully, this current situation does not get as unpleasant as it has potential to. It is already very difficult for some, and in some regards, will likely get significantly worse before improving. Many of us are already doing what we can to help alleviate the severity of this major disruption of normalcy.