Living in Vehicles and Homeless Information
Homeless and Unstably Housed in Mountain View
Homelessness is a significant and growing issue, driven in large part by shortfalls in housing supply and affordable housing throughout the region and the State. Since 2016, the City has developed programs and policies and dedicated over $9.9 million (as of Aug. 4, 2021) in funding to serve homeless and unstably housed residents. Throughout this time, the City has actively collaborated with the County and community-based organizations that have staff expertise and dedicated funding streams for working with homeless and vulnerable populations.
The needs and services related to homelessness can be viewed within a continuum for “coordinated care,” which includes homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, emergency shelter, and interim/temporary housing. Across this continuum, services also include programs to meet basic health and safety needs that are important in their own right and also support the ability to sustain stable housing. The efforts of the City and the City’s partners in these areas, both longstanding and described below.
The City is a committed and recognized leader in addressing the regional problem of insufficient housing supply, looking at all options, and taking meaningful actions by leading in areas such as:
- Dec. 15, 2022, Memorandum on the Human Services Division Update on Initiatives to Assist Homeless and Unstably Housed Residents
- August 4, 2021 Memorandum on City Initiatives to Assist Homeless and Unstably Housed Residents
- Adopted an extension of the shelter crisis to provide flexible and streamlined options for safe parking permits
- Supported the startup of a local non-profit to provide safe parking services
- Worked to secure five active safe parking lots for Mountain View participants Mountain View – resulting in the City having up to 101 spaces
- Funded and completed the significant site preparations for three of these lots including providing water service
- Created an innovative safe parking ordinance to ensure the public’s safety link to Muni-Code
- Established a streamlined safe parking lot permit/approval process during a shelter crisis
- Expanded land use options for sheltering (link to Muni-Code and link)
- Updating our longer-term strategies to address needs (Link to the adopted Consolidate Plan)
- Implemented domestic sewage prohibitions and Class II Bike Lane safety restrictions (link to Muni-Code)
- Led the development longer-term state legislative solutions to promote safe parking for all cities in conjunction with Assemblymember Berman and Ting’s Offices (Link to AB 2553)
- Supported the Human Relations Committee (HRC) Subcommittee Safe Parking Outreach, and the effort to secure additional safe parking lots for Mountain View participants
- Updated the homeless needs assessment and goals for responding to homelessness for the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan in support of Community Development Department
- Served on committees for the County Community Plan to End Homelessness
- Homeless Shelters: All shelters are open 24/7, by referral. Mountain View Trinity United Methodist (748 Mercy St., Mountain View) and Sunnyvale (999 Hamlin Court, Sunnyvale). Download the County Homeless Help Card
- Safe Parking Lots / MOVE Mountain View - Safe Parking: Safe parking staff continues operations of the safe parking lots, observing direction from HUD specific to homeless services providers. (Download the Move Mountain View information sheet)
- Contact: MOVE Mountain View for operations, movemvemail@gmail.com, (650) 861-0181
- Counseling and Mental Health Assistance from CHAC: Email info@chacmv.org or call 650-965-2020 Mon.—Thu. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Community Services Agency (CSA): Food Pantry drop-in Mon. and Fri. from 2 to 4 p.m., Thu. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Homeless Prevention and Homeless Services case management are by phone 650-968-0836 or CSACares.org. Hours are Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30–4 p.m. at 204 Stierlin Road, Mountain View.
- Direct Financial Assistance: If you are in need of Direct Financial Assistance, contact 650-968-0836 or email finaid@csacares.org if you are looking for financial relief due to COVID-19.
- County Call Center (Resources and Shelter referrals) Hotline: Call Here4You at 408-385-2400.
- Free groceries programs
- Second Harvest Foodbank: Contact Food Connection hotline at 1-800-984-3663. Text “GETFOOD” to 408-455-5181. Email getfood@shfb.org or visit shfb.org.
- STAND4 Drive-thru free groceries: Mountain View SDA Church, 1425 Springer Road. No ID or sign-up required. Email Info@stand4global.org to be notified of monthly distribution dates.
- St. Athanasius Church: Drive-thru food distribution on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at 160 Rengstorff Ave.
- Hope’s Corner: Drop-in breakfast and bag lunch offered Mon. 7 to 8 a.m., Wed. 8 to 9 a.m., Sat. 8 to 10 a.m.
Showers and laundry services are open Mon. 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Wed. 8:30 a.m. to noon, and Sat. 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. By appointment only. Sign up during meal distribution.- Info: hopes-corner.org located at 748 Mercy St., Mountain View.
- Dignity on Wheels (DOW): Free mobile showers, washer and dryer services continue at CSA on Thurs. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Mobile Medical Services: Health van visits to Evelyn safe parking lot on 1st Thurs. from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Shoreline safe parking lot on 3rd Thurs. from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and LifeMoves Mountain View Homekey on 2nd and 4th Thurs. from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Backpack/Street medicine continues.
- County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing: is working closely with our local non-profits and service providers coordinating services. www.sccgov.org/sites/osh, Call (408) 278-6400 or text 888777 for text messages about services.
- Click here for a full list of Emergency Assistance Network (EAN) partners in Santa Clara County .
- City Information: We encourage you to sign up to receive bimonthly updates from the City of Mountain View by texting CityHallNews to 22828.
- MedAssist: Qualified patients will receive financial assistance in the form of a grant designed to off-set high out-of-pocket expenses for life-saving medications such as anti-diabetics, asthma inhalers, and/or epinephrine auto-injectors. Visit the MedAssist website or call 408-970-2001.
- Multilingual Community Outreach Program (MCOP) also provides translation services in Spanish, Russian and Mandarin. Click this link to learn about these services and how to access them.
- Emergency Assistance Network (EAN) of Santa Clara County The Emergency Assistance Network (EAN) provides a variety of supportive services to prevent homelessness and act as a safety net for residents facing eviction, utility disconnection, and hunger.
- Notice of Street Work in Mountain View
- Services Available in Mountain View (English)
- Servicios GRATIS a Mountain View (español)
- Online Community Resource Navigator
- Community Services Agency Handout
- County Homeless Help Card
- County Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling (English)
- Valley Homeless Healthcare Program (English)
- County Quick Guide to Services (English)
- County Quick Guide to Services (Mandarin)
- County Quick Guide to Services (Spanish)
- 9-8-8 Mental Health Hotline
- Mountain View Police Department Handout on City Regulations and Ordinances (English and Spanish)
- RV Safety Tips (English)
- RV Safety Tips (Spanish)
- RV Waste Disposal (English and Spanish)
- Second Harvest Foodbank
- Vehicle Maintenance Leak Handout
- Where to Dispose of Hazardous Waste (English)
- Where to Dispose of Hazardous Waste (Spanish)
- Shelter locations and warming centers around Santa Clara County
Homeless and Unstably Housed Resources
LAST UPDATED: 8/30/2022 8:40:19 AM
Latest Updates
Links to Council Meetings on this Topic
August 4, 2021 Memorandum on City Initiatives to Assist Homeless and Unstably Housed Residents
October 30, 2020 Memo to City Council on City Initiatives for Homeless and Unstably Housed Residents
Other Resources Available
For questions about the City's homeless initiatives, use AskMV and choose "Homeless/Living in Vehicles" from the menu.
For questions about parking violations, use AskMV and choose "Police Department/Parking Enforcement" from the menu.
Periodic updates are also available by, following the City's social media channels, which you can access through www.mountainview.gov/social.