Tiny solution to a big problem with homelessness in San Benito and Santa Clara counties

A tiny solution to a big problem. On Thursday, students from San Benito and Santa Clara counties shared what they’ve been learning about homelessness While their research concentrated on Hollister, their tools for success could be expanded to other communities.

6th grader Faith Fernandez and her classmates at the Hollister Dual Language Academy have spent the last four months studying homeless. They conducted a survey, asking 60 people their thoughts on the social issue.

“Before this whole project started,” Faith explained, “I just knew the basics of it. They didn’t have a home, they may have lost their job, but after I got into this project, I got to see it in an entirely different way and I’m really proud to be a part of this.”

On Thursday, the students and their counterparts at Sunnyvale’s Helios School presented research that they say shows it’s an issue that needs to be addressed now.

“Most of these kids had never had any substantive contact with homeless people before so it was really interesting for me as their teacher to see their evolution this semester in their understanding of homelessness,” Helios School teacher Mike Orlando said.

The answer may be found in an 8-by-20-foot tiny home. Similar to communities in Olympia, Wash. and Eugene, Ore., this project is the brain child of Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez. Details like a location and a number of homes built still need to be worked out, however the mayor pointed out, this is not a free ride.

“We’re going to require people to pay some rent, want to work and volunteer in the community,” Velazquez said. “That’s the key to this whole program. You have to participate to help get out of this homeless issue.”

Helios School students participated by creating their own tiny home models, as part of their final project for the year. The ten presentations had themes – some for gamers or pet lovers or readers. Outside of books and exams, these kids are learning empathy.

“Well in addition to all the academic skills we want them to take away,” Orlando explains, “The ability to think and write critically and the science behind green technology. The most important thing for me as a teacher I want them to have them fed their innate sense of empathy and compassion, and having the understanding that they can be the advocates for social change and social justice, even through their schooling.”

San Benito County should learn more about its homeless population within the next month. That’s when the results of its homeless census should be released.

“We’re going to solve this problem by building tiny homes,” Velazquez said. “Tiny homes for our community.”