City of San Jose and LifeMoves Unveil City’s Largest Interim Housing Community 

February 12, 2025

 

City of San José and LifeMoves Unveil City’s Largest Interim Housing Community 

San José, CA – The City of San José and LifeMoves celebrated the Feb. 12 pre-opening of Homekey Branham Lane, the city’s newest and largest interim housing community, where intentional design and innovation will work in collaboration to support multi-generational families and single adults on their path to stable, permanent housing.

The community is home to 204 units, including 24 family-flex units, and central to San José’s plan to add 1,000 new interim housing units by the end of the year. This modular-built, supportive housing campus, situated on a two-acre lot, will have the capacity to serve 216 clients at a given time. Features include a pet park, serenity room and a community garden.

“This is our first interim housing site opening this year, but it won’t be our last,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “As we open the city’s largest interim housing community, we will be clearing encampments in the vicinity of the site and offering shelter at Monterey-Branham — and we’ll be keeping these abated areas clear so our neighbors hosting this solution to homelessness see immediate and lasting results.”

Surpassing new interim housing’s conventional standards for safe and private living space, Homekey Branham Lane harnesses decades of learning to cultivate an inspirational and healing environment. When combined with personalized case management, legal aid, workforce and educational development, housing assistance, substance use treatment and physical and behavioral healthcare, this community will hold the potential to dismantle many foreseen barriers that often limit progress.

“At LifeMoves, we know that our clients require more than just four walls as they embark on their journey toward stable housing,” said LifeMoves CEO Aubrey Merriman. “Branham is a milestone in the evolution of interim supportive housing that combines modular flexibility, intensive case management and supportive services to meet the needs of a range of individuals and families. Each aspect of this community has been purposefully designed and works in tandem to reduce barriers and empower our clients who seek to restart, rebuild and reclaim their independence.”

Homekey Branham Lane is generously supported by a $51.8 million California Project Homekey grant, a $38.8 million investment from the City of San José, $4 million from Santa Clara County, and $5 million from John A. Sobrato Philanthropies.

“This is a tremendous example of the partnerships our department strives to foster,” said California Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez. “Funding from Governor Newsom’s Homekey program is being leveraged by a nonprofit to create more than 200 homes on city-owned property, providing a foundation complete with critical supportive services to help struggling Californians prevent or exit homelessness and maintain stability in a life lived off the streets.”

The success of projects like Homekey Branham Lane relies on forward-thinking leadership and collaboration at every level.

“Since 2018, the City has invested in an expansion and diversity of shelter options, from deploying 600 units of quick-build interim shelter, to safe parking sites and hoteling, in recognition of the need for decent, safe and managed environments for our unsheltered neighbors,” explained City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “Homekey Branham Lane is an investment toward adding 1,000 units and spaces this year, building out a more comprehensive shelter system.”

Innovative Amenities

LifeMoves programs are built upon four decades of experience and the organization continues to integrate learnings and research into new campus designs and community programs.

Interim housing models that provide accessible, welcoming, dignified and healthy options for individuals in crisis and better facilitate access to permanent housing must be implemented, according to a recent National Alliance to End Homelessness study.

Homekey Branham Lane project planners prioritized a human-centered approach in every design element of the community, including:

• Non-Congregant Housing – Living spaces feature storage, bathrooms and kitchenettes and are designed to prioritize safety and privacy.
• Flex Units – Twenty-four adaptable units can accommodate up to 18 households of up to six family members, and each incorporates configurable furniture to better meet the needs and diverse makeup of multi-generational families.
• ADA Features – All units are fully ADA accessible, and the campus is designed to accommodate a range of mobility and sensory needs. Features include unit doorbells to support individuals with hearing impairments, onsite elevators and ADA-compliant personal bathrooms. This community reflects a commitment to respond to an evolving reality—35% of incoming LifeMoves clients experiencing chronic homelessness report one or more disabilities.
• Serenity Room – A quiet space with calming colors, tranquil artwork and privacy for clients seeking a serene space to decompress as they transition into interim housing.
• Flex Office Space – Adaptable office space offering round tables and couches to foster comfort and candid conversations between staff and clients.
• Privacy Booths – Dedicated areas for confidential telehealth appointments and job interviews.
• Pet Park – A recreational expanse allowing for play, exercise and fresh air for pets.
• Community Garden – A series of planters allow for a therapeutic, sustainable activity that can elevate independence and a sense of achievement.
• Outpost – A storefront near the entrance provides clients with free everyday essentials.
• Flex Classrooms – Adaptable space for both large and small assemblies to support learning and skill-building.
• Community Rooms – Spacious rooms with glass overhead doors that can open for fresh-air gatherings.
• All-Electric Laundry Rooms & Appliances – Energy-efficient attributes that can lower both maintenance costs and fossil fuel emissions.

LifeMoves anticipates the community will be open by late February.

For more information about Homekey Branham Lane, LifeMoves and ways to support this life-changing work, visit www.lifemoves.org or call 650-685-5880.

For details on the City of San José’s housing initiatives, visit www.sanjoseca.gov.

Media Inquiries:

Tasha Dean

Chief Communications Officer, San José Mayor Matt Mahan

tasha.dean@sanjoseca.gov

Maria Prato

Public Relations Manager

LifeMoves

mprato@lifemoves.org | 609-529-5583

 

About the City of San José: With nearly one million residents, San José is the largest city in the Bay Area and one of the nation’s most diverse and creative. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center in the heart of Silicon Valley has resulted in the world’s greatest concentration of technology talent and development.

About LifeMoves: LifeMoves is the largest provider of interim housing and supportive services for individuals, couples and families experiencing homelessness in Silicon Valley. Operating 26 sites from Daly City to San José, LifeMoves provides evidence-based, personalized case management to over 7,400 individuals annually.

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