Student homelessness has nearly tripled in one SJ school district since the pandemic

THE NUMBER OF homeless high school students and families in one East San Jose school district has increased threefold in just three years. 

The East Side Union High School District has approximately 900 unhoused students, compared to 300 in 2020. Officials said the number continues to climb and cite inflation, cost of living increases and the rollback of COVID-19 pandemic renter protections as the key culprits. The number of homeless students in the district is projected reach about 1,000 by the end of the year, district spokesperson Sergio Diaz Luna said.