When San Jose’s first multi-story, modular housing site opened in February, it was hailed as an inexpensive, cutting-edge solution to end homelessness.

But within months, cracks in the infrastructure at 1 Branham Lane began to show. Shower benches had fallen out, leading to injury, water from some apartments emitted a sewage smell, walls had water damage and multiple residents said they felt nauseous in their apartments. San José Spotlight reviewed photos and videos of the issues and spoke with six residents, with most asking for anonymity for fear of retaliation.

As a result of the issues, one resident filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against the city citing unsafe living conditions.

In the lawsuit filed May 29, April, who asked to only be identified by her first na

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