Columbus Park Abatement FAQ | City of San José

1. When did the Columbus Park abatement begin, and how long will it take?

2. Why is the City clearing the encampment at Columbus Park?

3. How many people were living at Columbus Park?

4. What support is being offered to people living at the park?

For months, HomeFirst and City outreach staff have been visiting Columbus Park to offer shelter, food, clothing, housing navigation, and case management. Outreach staff also help individuals and families enroll in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), which is required to access supportive housing programs. Beginning at the end of July, potable water was distributed twice a day Monday through Friday and once a day on Saturday and Sunday.

The abatement is not displacing individuals and families who accept supportive services and shelter. Instead, BeautifySJ and Housing teams are helping them safely transition by removing trash and unwanted items until their housing is ready.

Those who declined housing were required to leave the area by the start of the abatement. On August 18th, Columbus Park became a No Encampment Zone.

5. What is the City doing to prevent people from returning to the park after the cleanup?

A "No Encampment Zone" was established, covering the following areas:

Columbus Park

Irene St. from Asbury St. to W. Taylor St., Asbury St. from Irene St. to Coleman Ave., Walnut St. from Asbury St. to W. Taylor St., and Spring St. from Asbury St. to W. Taylor St.

In addition, concrete k-rail and fencing will be installed around the park to facilitate future construction activities. This will help keep the public safe and out of the construction zone for the upcoming Columbus Park Revitalization Project.

6. How is the City addressing concerns that people will move into nearby neighborhoods?

The City is taking proactive steps to minimize potential impacts on nearby neighborhoods:

The Housing Department has launched a Vehicle Relinquishment Assistance Program (VRAP) in Columbus Park that provides RV dwellers with $2,000 if they relinquish their RVs and agree to move into interim housing. The City expects this program to reduce the number of vehicles that may relocate into surrounding neighborhoods. More VRAP-specific information is provided later in this FAQ.

BeautifySJ is working closely with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to monitor areas where people have relocated in the past and to proactively prevent new congregations of RVs from forming in surrounding neighborhoods.

As with any major encampment cleanup, BeautifySJ’s Mitigating Impacts team will monitor nearby neighborhoods and respond to encampments that do not follow the City’s Code of Conduct/Good Neighbor policy.

The City has also established No Encampment Zones along the waterways both north and south of the park, which are common areas for re-encampment.

Residents can report concerns or encampments at beautifysj.org.

7. Didn’t you clear this area already?

8. How is the abatement going?

The City’s largest clean-up operation of the past decade is proving to be very successful. Thus far, 163 people have been moved from the encampment into interim housing. A total of 238 people in the encampment have expressed interest in moving into interim housing.

The City's BeautifySJ team has removed 668,800 pounds of trash and debris from Columbus Park. BeautifySJ has also removed 121 vehicles from the park.

A total of 76 people in the encampment have signed up for the Vehicle Relinquishment Assistance Program (VRAP). To date, 69 people have completed their VRAP transactions.

The City has leased five hotels and opened the Taylor Street Navigation Hub since beginning the Columbus Park Abatement, providing 125 new units of interim housing for people who had been living in the park.

9. Are there long-term plans to restore Columbus Park?

Yes. The Columbus Park Revitalization Plan, approved by City Council in April 2025, will move forward later this year. Once a vibrant gathering place in an under-resourced area, Columbus Park will be thoughtfully restored to serve the entire community.

The new design includes soccer fields, courts for horseshoe, futsal, basketball, and pickleball, as well as picnic areas and a children's play area.

While this abatement is a difficult but necessary step to protect public health and safety, the revitalization of Columbus Park means we’re building something better for everyone.

Preconstruction work, including soil testing and utility marking, is expected to begin this fall, with construction kicking off next spring or summer.

Learn more by visiting the project webpage.

10. How can the public stay informed?

11. What is the goal of the Vehicle Relinquishment Assistance Program (VRAP)?

VRAP is a multi-department City of San José pilot program to remove dilapidated RVs and trailers from Columbus Park to reduce environmental and safety hazards while offering vehicle occupants a pathway into temporary housing destinations. Initially proposed with a limited budget, the program has expanded to accommodate significant interest from the RV-dwelling households currently living in Columbus Park.

12. What is the process for VRAP participation?

Starting August 12th, Housing Department staff and City-contracted outreach workers began screening RVs and trailers for VRAP eligibility. Households participating in this program will receive a $2,000 payment via an electronic debit card and enroll in one of the motel-based interim housing programs. Only one vehicle per household will be eligible for this program. SJPD may assist with this process and check Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs). Police will also help in vehicle assessments to determine the proper next steps for removal (e.g., towing, on-site cleanup, etc.). The BeautifySJ team created placards to clearly mark vehicles participating in this program during the abatement. As RVs and trailers are relinquished, Housing Department staff will disperse payments to program participants. Funding for this program is made available through the City’s Department of Transportation (DOT).

13. How does a heat wave impact the Columbus Park abatement?

To keep the unhoused community and City staff safe, operations adjust when temperatures rise. At 88°F, there is a partial work stoppage. At 92°F, all BeautifySJ operations stop.

Offers of shelter and housing remain available at any temperature. Potable water is provided onsite, and all San José community centers and libraries are open during regular business hours to help residents can stay cool.

Visit bit.ly/sjcommunitycenters for a list of community center and www.sjpl.org/locations for a list of libraries. For additional cooling tips, visit the Santa Clara County website.