I experienced Homefirst as a Veteran which is a little different than the other guests. I think the staff members are very professional with very good people skills.

Real people,real help,real organized really works .Thank you

I was treated well. I just did not feel comfortable around the other clients there.

I could talk for hours about all the positive things about this organization And that shelter but theres not enough characters allowed only to say thank you. CiCi my service dog please say a prayer for her I had to put her down Saturday I love you CiCi

Helping people get out of their rutt... Good people and safe place to recover the pieces you are missing to rebuild your life and become whole again no matter how broken or decrepit you might be the facility has doctors on certain days a work program therapy monuments to passed guests thanks for this place 😂

This place helped me out a lot. And i was Totally grateful for their services! Until my car was broken into. There are people camping outside that scope out your stuff. I saw some of them wearing my stuff. You would think that they would have security watching the parking lot. Someone had enough time to break my back window, take things from the car and open the hood, but the ding dong couldnt figure out how to unlatch it, thank goodness. I couldnt leave my car all open and unlocked that way so i decided to sit in the car until morning until I could get my window repaired. Home first told me i couldnt do that. I would have to drive my car off their property and if i did i would lose my bed in the shelter. This was supposed to be a working persons program but its really not geared towards the working person whatsoever. When i was working nighrs, they woke me up at 6, they had head count at night.. it really felt like jail*** Homefirst!! 😠🖕

Stayed here last year! The place helps a lot, although personal characters are varies in general, **Im Very - very Lucky that Ive been helped by them! X)

Helps those adjust to.the real world again

In my own experience they did not help me with anything regarding housing. i was getting kicked out of my home so I went there and waited felt invisible then the staff there didnt give me any advice besides asking me if I had friends to stay with. I wouldnt be asking for help here if I had somewhere to go! Now i am homeless. the staff contact you give you an appointment and dont even show up! i took a 2 hour long bus ride to get rescheduled and they didnt even let me know until I got there waited an hour then told me the staff I was supposed to meet with had their schedule mixed up even though we set up the appointment 2 weeks ago and talked the day before. When I voiced my concerns, they ghosted me and stopped communication altogether. I feel so hopeless, what was even the point of contacting them when they dont do their job and forget about you??

This place is the best shelter ever! The staff are amazing and friendly! They are willing to go above and beyond to give you the best assistance when it comes to helping you with applying for general assistance , searching for employment , housing and so much more. They put effort into asking how your day went and showing that they really do care for the homeless community. Resources are available to you 24/7 at the front desk or at the resource table inside the shelter. They have different programs that makes a difference in our everyday lives. I would like to acknowledge the staff that has been so welcoming and has done a lot to make my stay comfortable. Savannah shes one of the kindest staff i have the pleasure of meeting.. Stacey is also a kind hearted soul and they are always going the extra mile for you. Lannah runs the program called fresh start or something like that and shes such also one of the best staff at this shelter. i remember a madelyn when i was here but Sonia the new head shelter manager shes awesome and so helpful in so many ways when it comes to asking for a lower bunk she was kind enough to assign one to those who need it most. I am just so grateful to have been able to stay at this place even if it was for one night my emergency night it felt like i stayed for awhile the hospatality and energy of the place was quite remarkable so to speak. Some people i have met were rude but i mean they are every where..i would highly recommend taking your emergency night at this shelter it made my experience super smooth. Hope this helps.. Gotta run - Ali

We were simply given the run around and not allowed any services. Not to mention having the car window smashed with machetes, while inside. This place is a horrible excuse for what ever they do over their.

I waited in line to get inside with many homeless folk. A staff member stood at the door shouting to us about something, but being at the back of the line I could not hear her. As I entered the doors I observered staff going through everyones backpacks and making everyone throw away all their food and drinks. I feared they were going to make me throw away my bottle of water. It was so hot out!I was allowed in because of excessive heat, but was told there were no beds available. I had to empty my pockets out onto a table, which consisted only of my wallet and phone, and I had to go through a metal detector and get screened with a wand. While I waited to go through the metal detector the guy at the table kept walking away from my things and turning to talk to people, and I was being asked questions by staff. Homeless folk were all crowded around and I feared I was going to lose my things. I was finally told to pick out a mat at the front in a room, but given no other instructions.I went in confused and observed other people putting mats on the floor so I grabbed a mat and chose a place. I did not have blankets, but other people appeared to have some. I just stared at that mat for the longest time. I tried to get down, but could not physically bend down that far. Im disabled. I told them this when I registered, but I guess it really did not matter.Finally, I decided I could not just keep staring at that mat. I knew that even if I somehow got down, I would not be able to get up again. And having bladder issues and the need to use the bathroom frequently and quickly, I knew this situation was simply not an option for me. I broke into tears knowing that I would be sleeping in my car.

I was in a bad spot in my early years after leaving home. This place was always clean and I was pretty much given a bed every night until I was able to leave. Now that I have grown older and wiser... I appreciate what this center did for me. It did suck not having a home to go to... however, in a way this was home! Im out of the center now and its been about 15 years since I lived there. It wasnt a great start but now I own my own company and doing well. The biggest lesson I learned was, if I dont work hard to be somebody... Ill end up like the old people who lived there! I dont want that! but will never forget the different journeys I had in life.Just want to say thanks!

Been living here for 8 month, as far as homeless shelters go this one is the best!

People are nice during my time spent there.

You would think they wouldnt turn hungry people away but i watched them do so. Not to sure on the other programs they have but if your hungry probably not the best place.

Very hospitable there and they set you up a bed right away

After a traumatic experience in October, I was taken to Home first, Not having anything but the clothes on My back. My phone and my purse also taken, I found the staff very friendly and helpful.In weeks to come I thought I adjusted well . In order to stay I joined a program called new start which only had a janitorial job open, No problem... However I soon realized not for me.. All I heard all night was men vomiting, unbelievable sleep apnea and so on. The mentally ill and alcohols sleep right through anything. I unfortunately got little sleep. Rooms should be available for non pukey, non drinking people. Im very grateful for being able to stay and Im glad San Jose has such a place for the less fortunate.⭐💜❤🏙🏘

This organization is one of the most caring Ive seen. There are many areas they can help in. Housing, rent, utilities, bus fare. Plus they run a very good soup kitchen, with a shelter on a first come - first serve basis.

People helping people

Very good shelter to go to staff friendly and help full

A good store of information for veterans who have been or who are homeless now

Wonderful staff... Clean facility, great resources. Ed (new start/ working persons programs), is the most amazing person, Im privileged to call him friend. He will do all he can to help you, bc hes been there. Traci (volunteer coordinator) a beautiful person, shes always polite and will help in any way possible. Miss Corrina always puts her clients first, she makes you feel like family. She started an art class and a botany class for clients. The therapy value is priceless. Miss Alecia makes you feel safe, shes caring and fair. The rest of the staff are fun and caring... Georgy Sir, David (baby rabbit), Monica (rebel child), Dennis, Rod, Shawn (sunshine), Robert (tiny dancer), Jeremy (hawk eye), Cathrine, and miss Norma, she sings in the morning for clients, it soothes the beasts, shes loving... She feels like home. Administrative staff, Miss Andrea, Miss Stephanie, Miss Jones, Kenny... Without them there would be no home first. Outreach, Dana, Francis, butter bean (sorry), truly amazing women, they go out and help the homeless... For many people home first is the only home they have... The staff and clients make it feel welcoming. Volunteers and donations are always appreciated and welcomed.

Very good source of food products excellent approach

Good resources but not very good environment for people who want to better themselves.

It’s a great approach by these people to help homeless people around Bay Area

Needs a lot of work but they run it like a prison

Referals is the way to go. walk ins suck. some good employees, some bad employees with no compassion for some individuals, personalities before principles. 3 hots and a cot when place by a the county, great place if you can find employment. integrity is put on the test, humbleness needed to deal with the bad days.

The mission at hand; delivering miracles to the downtrodden.The numbers of success stories threatens to redefine the nature of miracles ! Or at least their definition. Their occurrence, the sheer numbers they make them happen may render them synonymous to probability?Just a matter of time til til its the expectation!All which may answer the ages-old question , will miracles never cease? They may .Homefirst is making miracles commonplace, everyday stuff for San Joses homeless.Now, thats whats up!!!

Its helpful if youre willing to put in the work to start your life again in the right path

Mice filled. Urine smelling sanitarium. People get stabbed there. Only one or 2 nice people.

Terrible. Rude power tripping staff. No help for permanent housing if you are working.

State of the art security measures!

This is a place for the less fortunate and medically Ill they have food, shelter, and hot meals. They have a lottery everyday and you must put your card in the bucket to get a bed. Sometime they have to turn some people away because beds are limited but the food is exquisite.

They make lots of money from the state and do not send it on down the line

I have only used this facility while in o e of its programs. I have always been in a room or cubicle and only had one to 3 roommates. I am so glad the respite and mental health programs are available. They ate a blessing to those of us that need such setvices.

The first time I have been in a place I can be myself and not worry about being victimized. With the PTSD I suffer from I can get to the point of psychosis with out any warnings. I am not able to gauge how my fears,both rational and irrational, will effect my nights. The shelter regulations and the staff who work there complement each other in a way that you are safe but are dealt with on a personal level that comforts. I have been working with them for five years and this current staff has the place running like a well oiled machine....

I used to volunteer at my local shelter and help out others out of the kindness of my hart..I found myself homeless with a job and was looking for a safe place to stay the night, I walked 5 miles to this place and was greeted with the meanest person I have ran into since I have been out here ... I dont feel like these people are there to help people because they feel compelled to...but because they can make a pay check...I dont feel safe in a place like that ... Go elsewhere ..

Good place at tje time i was there with my family in this weather had hot meal snacks and got hot shower and meet nice. Poeple i loved it to relax and movie nite

Its a decent place as far as shelters go. They are doing away with he lottery bed placement and by October 30th you will need to be enrolled in a program to work for your bed and board. Either 45 days with I the facility or have a 32 + hour week job. There is a lot of theft so travel light and keep your belongings close to you. Close to light rail and bus lines. There is a curfew and rules to follow.3 meals a day, laundry on site and personal hygeine is provided.

Wonderful programs

The worst shelter to go to, I have a friend who stayed at this shelter, as we talked on the phone, he continued to get bullied constantly by other residents and the staff just let it go on and on. Not only he got bullied, the staff got into the bullying phase as well, denying my friend of food, denying him a shower and accusing of him of false accusations. Thank God, he has a friend like me, they kicked out of the shelter when he woke up in the morning, now Im on the phone listening to one of the staff, first she said, he was smoking in the bathroom, which he denied, then she said he exposed himself in the bathroom, he denied, ok, so now she said he had food in his bed and took someones phone and used it. I know this guy, he is not like that, first of all, he has two cell phones I call him on, why would he use someone elses phone. He loves to go out to smoke so he can speak to me privately on the phone not others listening to his conversation, so smoking in the bathroom was a lie, food in bed, are you serious? Why is there an accusation of him exposing himself in the mens bathroom, lol, that is ludicrous When you are at urinals, dont you whip it out and you are expose anyway and who is he exposing himself to? I have read the reviews of this shelter, and many reviews are not good, who is in charge of inspecting this place, oh I will find out. Well he will be ok, we are helping him, everyone knows he is a kind man, just the bullying will make any human upset and rage and if you are a person who loves to help others, you will not throw someone out on the streets where they need the most help and lie on them after you know what he is going through. Karma is for real, keep doing the things you do, Karma is watching and will come for those who do wrong to others.

Caring explains everything, and some of the best is that they help people to get back on track. Longevity

This place is the best 😀 Friendly staff, great food, clean bathrooms and showers, basketball court, lockers.I couldnt have done it without Homefirst

Helpful in my time of need. Friendly staff very kind and understanding, they take time to listen. THANK YOU

There are many barriers to be able to stay here. They dont allow people to walk in for services such as showers or meals unless you are staying here. Couples cant stay together, children and pets arent allowed and there is rampant theft and favoritism.

This place saved my life 16 months ago

Great staff. I enjoy delivering food to this organization 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

If your in medical Respite its wonderful, main population not the best, however doable.

They help you get what you need. Its what you make of it. Use the resources you can and referrals available. Sometimes things can seem impossible or frustrating, but there are a lot of people at times. You just gotta keep on trying.

GOOGLE DO NOT DELETE THIS IS A WARNING FOR CLEAN AND SOBER VETERANS WITH NO PYHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES:Came there on the Veteran program:-Perpeutal HARD drug use in the bathrooms-Perpetual theft of peoples property-Perpetual chance of being jumped or attacked ( when I was there a frail elderly woman was visiously attacked)-Two-faced social workers who will never defend a veterans right to a safe environment-if a veteran does get attackex Homefirst will add to the Veterans V.A. healthcare record ( which is a federal document) that the veteran encouraged the attack.HomeFirst recieved $1850 from the V.A. for my stay. Once I told Callie Gregg ( she is the one with the scary tatoos) and Teddy McDonald that I am leaving in fear for my saftey they destoyed my V.A. file via the written word because they wete no longer get monies for taking me in.I know I did not $1850 worth in care THAT IS PROVALBLE IN FEDERAL COURT

If youre trying to regroup & are sincere about it ,with humility you can move forward... sometimes circumstances produce the Best results.

They work hard and are very caring.

Home First is a Bay area leader in rebuilding lives. I know..... Im one if them.

OTHER PEOPLEZ HYGIENEZ& DISRESPECTFUL ADULTZ!!!👌 BATHROOMZ NEED DAILY SANITIZER AND STERILIZATION THA MENZ & WOMENZ 👍👍😉!!COMMUNICATION WITH STAFFING AND ALL OTHER ADULTZ IN THA PROGRAM!👌 TY & GOD BLESS ALL OF THA STAFF AND RESIDENTS AND SECURITY! 😉😀!!AMEN GM/GN!

Very caring and humane place

MRS. T WAS A MIRACLE WORKER. . DEFINETLY HELPFUL IF YOU NEED HELP.

Wasnt clean when I wentI was going there because someone told me, that my dog, could get certified. Not the case, everyone looked confused

They have a fully functional Clinic here. With Doctors and Nurses

I took my cats & dog a wonderful place

Very comfortable. Nice staff

It needs to be Gods fearing place. Needs immediate attention & assistance.Set up priorities . Met the primary needs of all the clients.Provide sufficient hard workers.

Make easy & quick donations to help homeless

Ived done programs there(NewStart,OutReach,SHP)

Give me a place to sleep instead of my card good place for vets lots of benefits good people

Even if u get a job they dont even care theyed rather let u sleep in your car or the street then even help u so sad

We used to be stay there 3 years ago and the staff are awesome

These shelters are run by people with little experiences dealing with people and their issues know one knows anything if you are educated they act intimidated power hungry no nothings it’s horrible how disrespectful the people are that run these place somethings needs to be done to secretly monitor so these donors and politicians know what’s going on in these please just horrible

Went look for my uncle Guy

Very decent facility. The kitchen is kept clean.

I love this place its very rewarding and the staff is very helpful and friendly.

A rewarding experience feeding 180 homeless men/women.

Best homeless shelter in the so bay

The staff are very nice and eager too please..

Have been here 2 years. Been on several of their programs. They help some not all. Staff changes a lot cause they fire the ones that care. And the SJPD is security now

Was passing on the bus. Not very presentable clientele, unfortunately.

Terrible shelter. Staff doesnt know what theyre doing or how to properly act.

Loved that home first

Great emergency shelter good staff

Many servives for homeless and medical recovery. The staff really cares about its clients

The neighborhood group that think they are doing something by following Homeless Clients around,spend that money on donation to the Homefirst program.

Its safe,staff are great,friendly and to me it my home!

Nothing changes here

Is there a good start in life and lost everything

N/A

The food may be great, but the sexual harassment isnt worth it.

I stay thier before it was ok

Its a good opportunity b/c

I first utilized the services of Home First in May, 2017. Since that time, I, unfortunately, have had to return to Home First where I have been subjected to pain and discomfort from New Start program participants. Certain of these participants have used microwave and electric shocks on me as I was resting. Also, some of the guests often come into the shelter drunk and high and attempt to cause trouble but are not requested by staff to behave.

Perfect

Some of the food they feed is good some of it bad.

You only get one emergency night then you have to be there at 3pm for a raffle to maybe get a bed.

Awesome help

Alot to offer.

Terrible place when I went to hospital for eight days (vmc) when I returned they thew out all my stuff everything was gone sad

Staff are professional and courteous and the food is decent

People Will help you here

Best place2work!

Some of the employees are rude and not trust worthy and they play alot of favoritism in this shelter

Friends and donate things