San Jose’s first tiny home village on private land already half full

The Via Del Oro tiny home site in San Jose, housing up to 150 people, is a pilot project demonstrating how private land and public-private partnerships can help address homelessness more efficiently. Built by nonprofit DignityMoves on land leased for $1 a year by philanthropist John Sobrato, the site features individual rooms, shared amenities, and supportive services provided by HomeFirst. Costing $17.2 million to build and $2.7 million annually to operate, it represents a lower-cost, scalable model if proven successful. San Jose aims to reach "functional zero" unsheltered homelessness by adding 1,400 temporary housing spaces this year, with Via Del Oro being the fourth site opened recently. Residents like Zachary Plumeau credit the site with giving them a chance to rebuild their lives.