San Jose councilman spent time inside two homeless shelters — here’s what he learned

WHEN SAN JOSE Councilmember Omar Torres was challenged to sleep in a homeless shelter, he responded by staying at two different sites.

Former homeless resident Sketch Oppie invited the entire city council to experience staying in a shelter to help them understand why allocating dollars to affordable housing is the better long-term solution to homelessness. While other councilmembers said they were open to the idea, Torres was the only one to raise his hand and commit. Over two weeks in June, Torres stayed at two different interim shelters to understand the value of these sites and to empathize with those who live there.