PALO ALTO ONLINE, Coalition plans to eliminate family homelessness by 2025

'Heading Home' will use federal funds to cover rent for families in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County officials, in collaboration with nonprofit housing partners and the city of San Jose, are looking to house 1,200 homeless families within the next year.

Heading Home, which launched on Monday, utilizes federal stipends that will cover rent for homeless families over the next decade.

"This is a once in a generation opportunity with a new infusion of resources," San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said at a news conference on Monday.

The county estimates that there are 600 families currently experiencing homelessness. They will be the first to receive stipends and be housed. A little less than 40% of those families are located in San Jose, Liccardo said.

Even if the county houses those 600 homeless families, officials anticipate that over the next year, 600 more families will fall into homelessness, which is where the 1,200 number comes from.