Apple's homeless relocation project still hasn't found homes for everyone

Apple has spent millions supporting people moved from a homeless encampment on its property, but with nine months of support drying up, many haven't yet found permanent housing.

Following months of discussions in 2021, Apple evicted 56 people from a homeless encampment on 55 acres of Apple's land in September. Dozens of the displaced people were given lodgings in a motel for nine months, as well as assistance to find new homes.

Almost nine months later and with a deadline looming for the people, many are still unable to find a permanent home. Of the group housed in the San Jose motel, only eight were successfully moved on into a permanent home, FLTimes reports that more than three times as many people have yet to be rehomed.

"We know (the motel) worked quite efficiently for some program participants, and more time is needed for others," said Lori Smith, CMO of nonprofit HomeFirst, which runs the program funded by Apple. "Each person has their journey into homelessness, and each will have their path out - and rarely will they look the same."

Apple said it had "been working with partners across the state to support at-risk communities and provide new affordable units."

However, the project had obstacles in the form of a lack of appropriate affordable housing, managing the histories and medical needs of the participants, and other restrictions.

HomeFirst intended to find placements before the end of the motel program, but as of 16 May, 25 people were still at the motel. Those who were still there at the time of the deadline would be offered emergency shelter beds instead.

Those who did leave moved into a mix of permanent or transitional housing, including tiny homes and apartments, as well as with family members. More than a quarter of participants were connected to healthcare, or had Social Security or other benefits, with nearly all added to housing waitlists.

Ten were made to leave the program, due to either breaking the rules or after being arrested.

Though the program has cost Apple millions to operate so far, and helped a group of homeless people for nine months, it is still facing criticism for ending the program.

Activist Shaunn Cartwright complained that Apple had offered stability with a motel room, but then took that stability away. Pointing out how the residents benefited in terms of their physical and mental health, Cartwright insisted Apple should extend the program.

"If they end up on the streets, that is entirely Apple's fault. That is Apple's shame," Cartwright declared.

The plight of two unplaced participants are highlighted in the report. In the case of 65-year-old Bertha Iglesias, her plans are to move back into a trailer, and park on a street near her mother's house.

Richard Bebee was told by the program that he could get into permanent housing through the program, leading him to sell his truck and try and get a commercial driver's license. However, he was unable to raise the money to get the training and to take the test.

The 50-year-old Bebee was offered a place in a tiny home, but he decided not to take the opportunity.

HomeFirst CEO Andrea Urton underlined the critical role of Apple in funding the project, but there's only so far the program can go. Citing a shortage of permanent housing in the area, as well as how participants don't necessarily meet the criteria to be placed in housing, Urton admits "that is all we can do: provide service, support, encouragement, and allow them to make their own decisions."

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19 Comments

mobird 758 comments · 20 Years

About 2 years ago

Why isn't the motel purchased outright and then used as a permanent housing facility? This arrangement seems to have worked for the majority of the participants.
Doesn't appear that Cartwright appreciates Apple's efforts, his comments certainly would not motivate very many benefactors.

addison huy 27 comments · 16 Years

This is not Apple’s fault they are going above and beyond when it comes to helping them. Finding them jobs and building cheep housing like potentially three printed homes may be an option.

jdw 1442 comments · 18 Years

Interesting to see people bash Apple, after it spent "millions" trying to help, but such comes as no surprise. It's the same with American public schools, no matter how much more people give through taxation or donation, they always need or expect more.

As to the commenter who spoke of "finding them jobs," it's important to realize that drug addicts and the mentally ill comprise a large part of the homeless population, and because America thinks it improper to institutionalize folks that that anymore, we end up with them on the streets or on private property. For many, holding a normal job is not realistic, and even when you have a job, the pay is not going to be white collar level, and in California where the cost of living is so high, you end up with such an unworkable situation that many continue to live on the streets. Also keep in mind that holding down a real job involves having several changes of nice, clean clothing, the ability to shower daily, AND the ability to have PROPER TRANSPORTATION to get to work on time. People who lack understanding about the homeless fail to take those things into consideration. Invisible People on YouTube is a great channel to take a deeper look into this complex problem.

Apple probably would have faced the same criticism had they done little to nothing and just had the cops "evict" those folks from Apple's private property. But at least Apple can now say they tried, and so even though they will get bashed for having to move the rest of the people off its land, it's not like they didn't do anything at all to help. At some point, the hard choices must be made.

DAalseth 3033 comments · 6 Years

jdw said:

Interesting to see people bash Apple, after it spent "millions" trying to help, but such comes as no surprise. It's the same with American public schools, no matter how much more people give through taxation or donation, they always need or expect more.

As to the commenter who spoke of "finding them jobs," it's important to realize that drug addicts and the mentally ill comprise a large part of the homeless population, and because America thinks it improper to institutionalize folks that that anymore, we end up with them on the streets or on private property. For many, holding a normal job is not realistic, and even when you have a job, the pay is not going to be white collar level, and in California where the cost of living is so high, you end up with such an unworkable situation that many continue to live on the streets. Also keep in mind that holding down a real job involves having several changes of nice, clean clothing, the ability to shower daily, AND the ability to have PROPER TRANSPORTATION to get to work on time. People who lack understanding about the homeless fail to take those things into consideration. Invisible People on YouTube is a great channel to take a deeper look into this complex problem.

Apple probably would have faced the same criticism had they done little to nothing and just had the cops "evict" those folks from Apple's private property. But at least Apple can now say they tried, and so even though they will get bashed for having to move the rest of the people off its land, it's not like they didn't do anything at all to help. At some point, the hard choices must be made.

Well said. A place to live is a human right, but it’s not Apple’s job to provide it. That’s the job of society writ large, one that it is failing at miserably.

Every one of us is a few missed paycheques or a bit of bad luck away from being homeless. Any one of us could be sleeping rough. Any one of us could have to consider turning to drugs to try to stay awake so we don’t get robbed, raped, or set on fire. Any one of us could have to consider which was riskier, a shelter full of desperate people or freezing to death outside.

Yet as a culture we tend to blame the homeless for being homeless. I know people who look down on them, call them street rats, and worse. I know it’s almost impossible to get a job without a permanent address. It’s a trap that society has made and reinforces every day.

That’s the reality of homelessness.

MplsP 4020 comments · 8 Years

Completely agree with the above comments. Apple was under no obligation but went above and beyond to help these people. What they couldn’t do was change the reasons for their homelessness. Apple can’t magically make housing more readily available or affordable. Nor can they cure mental illness or drug addiction. I don’t get why some people blame them for not letting people squat on their property.