June 12, 2026
San Jose, the capital of Silicon Valley, is known for its innovation and as a hub for multi-billion dollar tech companies. However, in stark contrast to this economic boom, a harsh reality of profound inequality exists: 6,340 people are homeless in the city, according to the latest available data. Of these, 4,411 survive on the streets, along rivers, or in tents, facing not only cold and hunger, but also a community struggling to find effective solutions.
It is in this context that stories like Crystal’s emerge, putting a human face to the statistics. Crystal not only represents thousands of homeless people in San Jose; her testimony is a cry for help that reminds us that behind the numbers are lives, dreams, and a daily struggle to survive.
I’ve conducted many interviews, but when it comes to the suffering and hardships women face in their daily lives in one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, it saddens me to witness this bitter reality. We must look to those in need, abandoning indifference and apathy, because while we are in this world, we are not immune to anything; difficult situations like those this vulnerable population is experiencing today can happen to any of us.
Crystal, pleading for help amid her precarious situation, survives on the streets of San Jose. Photo by Rossana Drumond, Alianza News.
At the corner of Capitol Expressway and Senter in East San Jose, I interviewed Crystal, 35, a homeless Hispanic woman whose story resonates throughout the city’s encampments and creeks. From her makeshift stand, she shared her truth and her pain with a blend of vulnerability and strength that puts a face to a crisis affecting thousands in our community.
“Right now I’m homeless,” Crystal says. “Sometimes I live in a tent, sometimes in a car.” Her situation is complicated by a venous disease that causes chronic pain and open wounds on her legs. “It’s terrifying because at any moment, an infection could get into my bloodstream. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m young, I still want to work. I just can’t right now.”
Crystal mentioned that she regularly visits the wound care clinic at O’Connor Hospital. Despite medical efforts, the recovery process is slow and exhausting. Like many others, she relies on food stamps, but admits they aren’t enough to last her the whole month. «Food is expensive. There are days when I’m just hungry.»
THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN THE STREAM
Crystal is currently sheltering in a camp near Coyote, where dozens of people like her are struggling to survive. “It’s cold. We need blankets, tarps, clothes, food… basic things. But we also need people to know we’re here, to see us. We’re not just a nuisance to be cleared.”
Her experience is not unique. According to Crystal, many homeless women face a lack of resources and access to basic services such as restrooms or transportation. Some, like a friend of hers who is unable to walk, don’t even have the means to get to places where services are offered.
I HAD A DIFFERENT LIFE
Before becoming homeless, Crystal said she had a stable job as a teller at Wells Fargo Bank. “I know I’m capable,” she said with a sigh. “I used to work, I had a normal life. But my health and homelessness are holding me back. Even something as simple as a shower is a luxury.”
Although she has family in the city, Crystal avoids turning to them so as not to burden them with her problems. «They help me to a certain extent, but it hurts me that they see me like this. I want to get ahead on my own.»
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
“San Jose can help us by making resources more visible,” Crystal says hopefully. “We need housing programs to reach the encampments. They often say they have resources, but they don’t come to our areas, like Arroyo where I live. The city needs to see us and understand our needs, not just try to move us out of where we are.”
Crystal asks for help in simple ways: food, clothes, blankets. «It’s not always about money. If you can give us something that helps us get through the day, it means a lot. We’re here trying to survive day by day.»
Crystal’s story is a stark reminder that homelessness isn’t just a statistic; it’s a daily reality for thousands of people in San Jose. It’s a complex problem that requires not only effective public policies, but also empathy and action from all of us. Crystal, like so many others, hasn’t lost hope. But that hope needs to be supported by a collective effort so that more people like her can get back on their feet and reclaim their lives.
The growing inequality in Silicon Valley
At Alianza Metropolitan News, we discussed the most striking findings in Silicon Valley Pain Index, compiled by the Human Rights Institute at San Jose State University. This report reveals the growing inequality in Silicon Valley, where the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. The concentration of wealth, the lack of affordable housing, the rise in poverty, and unemployment are highlighted as key issues, according to the report.
This city, considered the fourth with the highest rate of homelessness in the United States, according to an Insider Monkey report, faces a crisis that reflects the deep inequalities of one of the most expensive regions in the country. Renting a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house in San Jose costs approximately $4,500 a month, an unattainable figure for many, especially for low-income individuals and those with health problems.
Similarly, the situation in Santa Clara County is critical, with 4,297 new cases of homelessness reported in 2025, a 24% increase over the previous year. This figure indicates that, despite efforts, authorities continue to face challenges in providing affordable housing and support services to those who need them most.
It is necessary for local authorities to listen to the people who live on the streets, to listen to those most in need, and that amidst the excitement of opening new buildings for the homeless, they remember, when allocating housing, to give priority to women who live on the streets, who beg in the streets, and who are the most vulnerable population.
