Santa Clara County limits water handouts for homeless residents
Some activists claim the county is no longer providing them water to take to homeless encampments—a service offered over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gail Osmer, an advocate for houseless communities, said throughout the pandemic she’s gotten multiple cases of water from the county Office of Supportive Housing to distribute. But earlier this month, she says the county refused to give her water, citing too many requests. In an email to Osmer, a county worker said water is only being given out during “inclement weather activations”—such as certain days with extremely hot temperatures.