SAN FRANCISCO, May 3 (Xinhua): An advocacy group in the Bay Area has met resistance from local residents who oppose a proposed plan to build permanent housing for the homeless in their neighborhood, a local TV outlet reported Friday.
The group called People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) is exploring possibilities of turning the site of a long-defunct grocery store into 100 permanent apartment homes for the homeless, the KRON4 TV said.
"PATH is working to end homelessness by helping people move off the street and into permanent homes of their own," the TV outlet quoted PATH regional director Megan Colvard as saying.
The proposed development project is located in a neighborhood in the city's Japantown in San Jose, with easy access to public transit, a grocery store, a school and medical services.
Many residents in the area opposed the group's housing plan for the homeless for fears of possible crime, drug abuse, more traffic and devaluation of their properties.
"It's in my front yard and that makes me very nervous," a female resident said.
Like other Bay Area cities, San Jose is battling with a growing homeless problem as local residents urge city officials to address the worsening situation visible on the city's streets and sidewalks.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said last month that she has committed to building at least 1,000 shelter beds for homeless people by 2020 and 5,000 units of housing annually.
