VTA Bus 22

Aeshaan Singhal

January 30, 2026

Hotel 22 is not your average hotel. Sure, it’s got beds, heating, and great service, but check in once every 15 minutes, and a nightly stay is $2.50. Hotel 22 is the name of the bus that traverses El Camino Real for 42 kilometers, and at night becomes a shelter for hundreds of homeless people. In 2019, the line was on the brink of being shut down nightly, a move that would be devastating for displaced people who rely on it on a daily basis. 

Unlike other shelters, the 22 does not require reservations, security deposits, or an ID card. Riders often simply hop on without paying, while the drivers, understanding the circumstances, quietly let them pass. This bus gives displaced people a predictable and reliable home for the night, in a life which is plagued with instability. 

The Santa Clara Valley Transport Authority differs from other public transportation systems, because it's more than just a commute from home to work. Instead, while it can serve the average person, it has inadvertently absorbed the overflow of homeless and displaced people excluded from the housing and shelter programs in one of the richest areas in the world. You generally will not see your average 

This debate over shutting down this bus line highlights not only the failures of the local and federal government to provide spaces for people who are struggling financially. Line 22 shows how many federal services, particularly public transport, measure success by profit margins and efficiency, when it should be determined by who it is serving . The California homelessness problem has only gotten worse over the years, and these temporary solutions are often the best hope for the people affected by systemic homelessness. Affordable housing in California requires investment and building, as well as increased legislation at the federal level, which unfortunately is not happening as of now. To combat the homelessness problem, affordable housing, mixed with funding social programs like SNAP, are necessary, but for now it is viable for displaced people to utilize the VTA. 

Yes, Hotel 22 is not an end all be all solution to homelessness in California, but it is vital for the lives of many human beings. Until long-term solutions are established, Hotel 22 is the best hotel in the city.