The Jungle (San Jose) facts for kids
_-_jungle-two.jpg)
The Jungle was a very large place where many people without homes lived. It was located in San Jose, California, near Story Road and Coyote Creek. This area was also known as Coyote Meadow. People built simple homes there, like shacks, tree houses, and tents, across about 75 acres of land. For a long time, it was one of the biggest places like this in the United States.
The Jungle existed from around 1999 until December 2014. One person who lived there said she stayed there sometimes for fifteen years before it closed. Another former resident said it felt like a "small community." They had things like stoves, couches, and even motor homes. Some people living there had full-time jobs but stayed at The Jungle because they could not afford other housing.
Why The Jungle Closed
_-_jungle-dwellers.jpg)
There was an attempt to close The Jungle in May 2012. About 150 people had to leave, but many eventually came back.
In July 2013, the San Jose City Council decided to spend $4 million to help people from The Jungle find homes. This was the start of a plan to permanently close the area. In December 2014, officials asked everyone to leave. They then cleaned up the site, removing everything and putting up fences. About 300 people lived there when it closed.
One reason for closing The Jungle was that state and local water groups wanted to stop pollution in Coyote Creek. Waste and trash from the area were getting into the creek and flowing into the San Francisco Bay. People living nearby also complained about the camp. Other reasons for closing included unhealthy conditions and safety concerns.
Before The Jungle was cleaned up, the city of San Jose used the $4 million to help residents move into housing that the city helped pay for. By early December 2014, 144 people found apartments, and the city helped pay their rent for two years. There were also 60 more housing vouchers available, but it was hard to find enough apartments. This was because San Jose had a shortage of affordable homes.
In 2015, park rangers who protect the water regularly checked the area. They wanted to make sure people did not return. Besides the fences, large rocks were placed near Story Road to block cars. After it closed, some people started calling the area by its old name, Coyote Meadow.
