What you need to know
- Apple is helping with a homeless encampment on its property in North San Jose.
- A report says the company will spend millions to help relocate the residents.
A Silicon Valley report says that Apple is planning to spend "millions" in outreach and relocation for a group of homeless residents of an encampment on the company's property in North San Jose.
Apple will spend millions of dollars on outreach and relocation for residents of a homeless encampment on the tech giant's property in North San Jose, seeking to address one part of Silicon Valley's growing, impoverished community that now squats on land owned by the world's most valuable company.
According to the report, outreach workers from local charity HomeFirst have been meeting with residents this week "assessing needs and offering services funded by Apple." Apple reportedly told the outlet it plans to spend "millions" helping the 50-60 residents, but did not give an exact figure.
The company said in a statement "Apple has long been focused on helping to combat the housing crisis across California and working with partners to support at-risk communities and provide new affordable units. In San Jose, we have been closely coordinating with local partners for several months to identify housing alternatives and support for families who will be transitioning away from the Component Drive site."
HomeFirst CEO Andrew Urton said that social workers have been helping the community through the pandemic and that Apple's funding was going to provide additional counseling, long-term relocation, and housing assistance. Urton lauded Apple's efforts saying the company was "really leading the way", praising the tech giant for not just displacing the people on its property. The report says residents will be moved into motels for transitional housing, whilst the agency then seeks to find permanent rented properties in Santa Clara County.
In July Apple stated it had provided $1 billion as part of its affordable housing initiatives in California over the last 18-months as part of its $2.5 billion commitment to housing in the state.
