The Bristol Hotel on the border of San Jose and Campbell has become a flashpoint for community tensions as the city attempts to address its homeless crisis. Residents near the newly converted transitional housing site for homeless women and children are raising concerns about public safety and neighborhood infrastructure.

Local residents like Rami Siadous have reported escalating issues, including RVs appearing near the motel, discarded syringes, and abandoned shopping carts. Most critically, electrical access boxes have been tampered with, causing four street lights to go dark, creating potential safety risks.

San Jose Vice Mayor Pam Foley acknowledges the community’s concerns but maintains that the city is actively addressing the issues. The Bristol Hotel, managed by nonprofit HomeFirst, currently houses 47 rooms dedicated to women and children transitioning out of homelessness.

One resident, Catherine Davis, who was previously living in an RV at Columbus Park, offers a different perspective. “It gives a roof over our head. It’s better than living in a van,” she explains, while also noting the strict rules of the temporary housing feel somewhat restrictive.

The hotel’s conversion is part of San Jose’s broader strategy to relocate hundreds of homeless residents from the Columbus Park encampment. The city offered $2,000 and temporary housing placements to residents in exchange for their RVs, effectively clearing the large homeless settlement in weeks.

While the Housing Department claims there hasn’t been a recorded increase in service requests, neighbors remain skeptical. The city argues that Community Advisory Councils provide opportunities for dialogue, though some residents feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed.

As San Jose continues to navigate the complex challenges of housing its unhoused population, the Bristol Hotel situation highlights the delicate balance between compassionate solutions and community apprehensions.