San Jose thought it was solving homelessness with a shiny new modular housing complex, but turns out it’s just another tech-adjacent disaster. The city’s much-hyped Branham Lane housing site, which cost nearly $100 million, is giving residents more health problems than housing security.

Residents are reporting a horror show of living conditions that sound more like a condemned building than a modern housing solution. We’re talking mold, sewage-smelling water, collapsing shower benches, and ventilation systems that seem more decorative than functional. One resident, April, even had to conduct her own DIY mold test from Home Depot – because apparently municipal oversight is too much to ask.

A Multimillion-Dollar Health Hazard

The project, funded by state dollars, county money, and philanthropic contributions, was supposed to be a breakthrough in affordable housing. Instead, it’s become a cautionary tale of bureaucratic incompetence. Residents are experiencing respiratory issues, feeling nauseous, and some are literally sleeping in their cars to avoid the toxic indoor environment.

Passing the Buck

Nobody wants to take responsibility. DevCon says they’re not responsible. LifeMoves claims their tests show no issues. The city? They’re doing the bureaucratic two-step of deflection and denial. Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer in what was supposed to be a safe haven.

The Real Cost of Cheap Solutions

Mayor Matt Mahan, who’s previously suggested arresting homeless people who refuse shelter, now faces the irony of forcing people into potentially uninhabitable housing. It’s a stark reminder that cheap solutions are often just expensive problems waiting to happen.

In the end, this isn’t just about a bad building – it’s about how we treat our most vulnerable populations. San Jose’s grand housing experiment looks more like a public health disaster than a compassionate solution.