Inside America's largest homeless camp: Makeshift hut city houses 175 people in the shadow of Silicon Valley's best areas

PUBLISHED: 14:53 EST, 8 September 2013 | UPDATED: 04:00 EST, 9 September 2013

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Silicon Valley is known as the capital of the tech world but the area's homeless population has grown dramatically in recent years.

The dark underbelly of one of the Golden State's wealthiest areas has been exposed in a new collection of photos shot in one of Silicon Valley's homeless camps.

Tucked inside a dry, brittle area of forestation, a series of huts and makeshift camps has become known as 'The Jungle' that now serves as home to the most desperate of residents.

Tough area: Lynn, pictured, is one of the 175 or so people living in a homeless encampment in San Jose

Hunkering down: Troy, a former carpenter, used his skills to make his area more established than some of his neighbors and later built a tree house

Business Insider reporters spent a week getting to know the residents of The Jungle, who invited the reporters inside their tents and homes made of ply board and wood scraps.

Some of the roughly 175 residents who live in the area are unemployed masons and carpenters who have put their skills to use by making their homes more intricate and permanent.

One carpenter named Troy built an elaborate treehouse- making it even more befitting of a jungle- while a mason built stairs into the sloping ground.

Many impoverished in the land of plenty: The proximity of the homeless enclave to high tech firms is astounding

Familiar face: Mama Red, as this woman is called, used to own a flower shop but that closed nearly two decades ago

In the system: She reportedly first turned to the shelter system but hated it and moved to 'The Jungle'

While the homes that are built with pieces of wood seem far more stable than the tents or lean-tos that rely on cloth for protection from the elements, they are both outshone by their neighbors.

Some of the country's billionaires live within miles of The Jungle, including Google founder Larry Page.

The homeless problem in San Jose is not new, but the dramatic increase in recent years brings it closer to a tipping point.

Bill Moyers reports that homelessness in the area increased by 20 per cent in the last two years.

Depleting resources: The stream that runs through the camp serves many purposes for the residents

Growing problem: Homelessness has increased by 20 per cent in the past two years in Silicon Valley

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And this is the country that dictates to the rest of the world on how to run their countries. This is the country who claims to be the "greatest" in the world. Shame on you!!!

- alousav , Johannesburg, 09/9/2013 09:43

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This is a first world problem . The pace of life is just leaving some people behind . Most of the people in this article have "old" skills that are virtually redundant . We don't all have what it takes to be on the information highway . It's good for those who do but lousy for those who don't . We cannot turn the clock back to a slower time with higher standards and values so I have no idea how you reintegrate society . In past times there was always "menial" work but machines do all of that now .

- Rocket Ron , Dunstable, United Kingdom, 09/9/2013 09:41

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No money to help the homeless but always plenty of money to kill people in far-away countries.

- Burlington Bertie , Eton, United Kingdom, 09/9/2013 09:40

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175 people. Not exactly a full-grown favela.

- greyridge , London, 09/9/2013 09:37

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Most are okay people who have fallen on hard times that's all ! I'm sure they would share their last pot of coffee with each other and strangers too !

- paul martin , Tokyo, Japan, 09/9/2013 09:22

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Think what the billions of $ that Obama will spend on bombing Syria could do for his own people, but he aint interested!!

- Jimbo2013 , Where ever, United Kingdom, 09/9/2013 09:07

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That's Obama and his globalists bankers for you, destroy the real Americans!

- GoodLightKnight , Nottingham, United Kingdom, 09/9/2013 09:05

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no worries obama hey you are spending tax payers money the best way by attacking syria - obama/cameron and any other leaders you need to concentrate on your own back yard first this is disgraceful.

- Shamus O Really , Notty Ash, United Kingdom, 09/9/2013 08:57

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most people who are homelss choose it. by choice i mean they are addicted. some actually like it, some simply don't want to work a regular job. very few need to be homeless. For those that are truly in need, I'm all for giving them a handout. we have a cousin who we have rescued so many times. she alwasy goes back out on the streets. she wants to be there. what more can you do? also, homess get foodstamps, free phones, SSI, welfare .

- Mari , Florida, United States, 09/9/2013 08:39

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This can happen in any country when half the people have been dumbed down to believe everything wannabee dictators tell them while the rest of us have been alert and aware of the "obombyou" agenda and have been trying to do something to stop the madness.

- Lou , Lakeside, United States, 09/9/2013 08:31

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