While the once-massive homeless encampment at Columbus Park in San Jose has largely been dismantled, a number of unhoused residents continue to remain in the area—underscoring the ongoing challenges facing the city’s efforts to address homelessness.

Once home to an estimated 350 people, the encampment at Columbus Park had become one of the largest in the city. Just a month ago, the park was lined with tents, makeshift shelters, and RVs, stretching across the open space and nearby streets. Now, most of that has been cleared, and the landscape looks markedly different.

But according to San Jose police, not everyone has left. Officers say they still have to conduct periodic sweeps of the park and surrounding areas, as some individuals continue to return or resist relocation.

Several of the remaining unhoused individuals told reporters they feel they’ve been pushed from place to place—moved out of one area only to find themselves with nowhere to go. They claim that, despite the city’s statements, they haven’t received realistic or sustainable housing options, and instead are being shuffled around without permanent solutions.

“It’s like they just want to make us invisible,” said one resident who has lived in multiple encampments over the past two years. “We’re not trying to be a problem—we just don’t have any place to go.”

City officials, however, maintain that housing support has been offered throughout the process. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said the city has taken significant steps to provide alternatives, including temporary housing options.

“We are responding to this crisis as best we can with the resources we have,” Mahan said. “We’ve offered transitional housing to hundreds of people, and many have accepted.”

According to the mayor, approximately 200 former Columbus Park residents have moved into converted motels and other forms of interim housing provided by the city through various homelessness response programs. These facilities offer shelter, basic services, and in some cases, access to job assistance and case management.

Still, the situation remains far from resolved. Housing advocates argue that while temporary motel programs provide a short-term solution, they are not a substitute for long-term, affordable housing options. Many unhoused individuals also face barriers to entry, such as requirements for sobriety, documentation, or behavior that make them hesitant—or ineligible—to participate in some programs.

Meanwhile, residents and business owners near Columbus Park are watching closely. Some are hopeful the area will remain clear, while others express concern that without lasting solutions, the encampments may return in some form.

As the city continues its push to address homelessness through enforcement and temporary housing, the lingering presence of unhoused individuals at Columbus Park serves as a reminder of just how complex and persistent the crisis remains.