Report: Spike in Homelessness In San Jose, Santa Clara

There are about 300 more homeless people living in Santa Clara County today than two years ago, according to a report -- which noted an 18 percent spike in the number of homeless individuals in San Jose, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

A census of homeless people taken in January found 7,361 people on the street, the newspaper reported, up from 7,067 two years prior. San Jose's figure of 4,770 homeless represented an increase of 18 percent, the newspaper reported.

San Jose "still has one of the largest homeless communities on a per-capita basis of any city in the country," said Ray Bramson, the city's homelessness response team manager, in comments to the newspaper.

A different survey, however, showed fewer homeless people. An analysis using federal formulas found an 11 percent decrease in homelessness, the newspaper reported.

So who is right? Bramson says the survey in January did a better job of identifying the "crisis," the newspaper reported.

There are up to 60 homeless encampments in San Jose, mostly along waterways, the newspaper reported.