Overdose deaths at Milpitas supportive housing raise questions on safety, oversight

People with drug and alcohol problems have for years found refuge at a long-term homeless housing program known as Hillview Court in Milpitas. But for an alarming number of them, the promise of stability and support has led to death.

Residents have rung warning bells for more than a year about frequent fatal overdoses where bodies aren’t found until the smell reaches other rooms. Yet Abode Services, the contractor selected by Santa Clara County to manage the 134-apartment complex, boasts of having a wealth of on-site services to focus on the residents’ well-being.