“They need to be helping… homeless people in Santa Clara County”

Photo of Barbara in Guadalupe River Park in summer 2021.

Excerpt from Barbara, a resident of the homeless encampment in Guadalupe River Park, near the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Summer 2021.

Interviewer: So, speaking of money, the state of California spends about $4 billion on the courts every year, which pays for salaries of prosecutors, judges, and public defenders and various programs for civil and criminal cases. Do you think the state should spend more or less on the courts?

Barbara: Less.

Interviewer: Less?

Barbara: Mhm.

Interviewer: Tell me why.

Barbara: Because they're --they're spending way too much money on the courts, and they need to be helping, like, us. There is so many homeless people in Santa Clara County. They need to...build more! Hire and get more fund --or get more stuff for the homeless.

Interviewer: Mhm.

Barbara: You know, they closed down a lot of women's shelters. They have closed--they have more men's shelters than women's.

Interviewer: Interesting.

Barbara: Mm hmm.

Interviewer: Yeah. Why do you think they did that? Why would they close down the women's shelters but keep the men's?

Barbara: I guess they thought it was more men shelt--men out there.

Interviewer: And so, have you ever tried to get into a shelter?

Barbara: Oh (ha)! That's as bad as trying to get my own housing.

Interviewer: Oh, really?

Barbara: It's about a two-, three-month, maybe longer process to get into a shelter.

Interviewer: Would you rather be here or in a shelter?

Barbara: Here.

Interviewer: Why?

Barbara: Because there's a lot of people that...for one, hasn't gotten their [Covid-19 vaccination] shot. For two, they don't like to bathe for three --they are...they'll steal from you.

Interviewer: Mmhm. People here steal?

Barbara: No! I'm saying in the shelter.

Interviewer: In the shelter. Got it. Got it.

Barbara: In the shelter --

Interviewer: In the shelter there's a lot of people who haven't gotten their shot and a lot of people steal. But out here, people have gotten their shots?

Barbara: I did! March 15th, uhh, last year.

Interviewer: Mhm.

Barbara: Right there. They came around and they say, "Hey, we're going to be given the Johnson & Johnson one time vaccine shot. Be here at 8:00. We'll be, uh, Mondays and Fridays for the first two weeks."

Interviewer: Why do you think it's so safe here, but not safe in the shelters?

Barbara: Because basically a lot of people are out here. Everybody knows each other...and we look out for each other.