This open letter was written by the Board of Hope for the Unhoused.
Dear Mayor Montano,
Thank you for your recent letter regarding the Milpitas Food Pantry. Your candid acknowledgment of the rising number of vulnerable residents and our growing homeless population highlights a reality we can no longer ignore: in a city defined by Silicon Valley prosperity, local pain is often masked, and our community’s safety net is being stretched to its breaking point.
While we face significant challenges, this moment offers us a unique opportunity to come together. Rather than letting this issue become a point of division, we have a chance to build a more resilient system for those who need it most. To that end, we would like to offer three strategic recommendations focused on collaboration and community impact:
- Rescind the Directive for Market-Rate Investigation. You stated clearly that your primary concern is not the rent, but rather the frequency of service and the accessibility of food. If the rent is not the issue, we respectfully urge the Council to rescind the order for city staff to investigate market-rate rent. Redirecting this effort saves our busy city staff valuable time and allows us to focus on our shared goal: ensuring the pantry operates as an essential community service. When an organization like the pantry isn’t forced to compete for funds to cover commercial rent, every dollar is preserved for what matters most—getting food to the families, seniors, and unhoused individuals who rely on us.
- Foster Collaborative Service Delivery. We are bracing for a challenging period ahead. The compounding effects of federal policy changes—including reduced SNAP benefits, rising healthcare costs, and volatile gas prices—are forcing more families to make impossible choices between paying rent and buying groceries. No single organization can fully shoulder this burden alone. If there are other nonprofits eager to assist, let us invite them to the table. We propose that the City Council facilitate a collaborative coalition that brings together the existing pantry, Hope for the Unhoused, and other local partners. By working as a network rather than in isolation, we can leverage our collective strengths, share resources, and provide a comprehensive, reliable schedule of services that better serve our residents than any single entity could independently.
- Invest in Preventive Data and Community Resilience. To solve a problem, we must first understand its true scope. We cannot manage what we do not measure. We urge the City to invest in a comprehensive, proactive survey of at-risk Milpitians to assess the reality of local food insecurity. With the funding source suggested by Councilwoman Lien, we can shift from reactive policy to a proactive, evidence-based support. Investing in this data today helps us prevent the long-term, costly crises of tomorrow, such as increased homelessness and heightened pressure on our emergency response systems.
At Hope for the Unhoused, we are ready to assist in developing the tools needed to better gauge our neighbors’ needs. Our holistic approach covers homeless prevention, support for those already unhoused, and case management that provides pathways for those ready to leave the streets. We have built a significant network of community partners, including Loreto QD’s Brigade, Community SEVA, VEDA, The United Effort, Loaves and Fishes, and many others. We also have partnerships with county agencies, including the Office of Supportive Housing and Behavioral Health. We are happy to assist with growing this community network. We believe that keeping families housed and fed is the most effective way to combat the rising tide of homelessness in our city.
Food insecurity is a symptom of a market economy that has left some of our hardest-working neighbors behind. As residents, we look to our leadership to protect the vulnerable through unity and compassion. We hope the Council will choose to lead by bringing us together, ensuring that our primary defense against hunger remains strong, sustainable, and collaborative.
The Board of Hope for the Unhoused, Inc.
- Robert Jung, President
- primary contact: hope4theunhoused@gmail.com
- Marsha Grilli, Vice President
- Lisa Moreno, Secretary
- Yolie Garcia, CEO
- Tom Valore, CFO
- Ferdie Ceneno, Board Member
- Lynn Shipman, Board Member
