In a significant expansion of California's initiative to tackle homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom has green-lighted an additional $182 million in grants for new affordable housing projects, adding 613 homes to the tally. These funds are part of the Homekey program's third round, which has now amassed $850 million in total investment, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Los Angeles County is the primary beneficiary with 516 new homes funded. These projects are critical in the broader scope of creating 14,652 homes state-wide, a figure which includes previously funded rounds, the HCD confirmed in a statement. "Homekey continues to be one of California’s most successful efforts to rapidly create housing for people struggling with homelessness," Newsom attested. The program, rapidly adapted from Project Roomkey due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has since transitioned to address broader housing needs beyond temporary pandemic relief.
A slew of developments benefit from this latest round of funding, with the $14.1 million University Inn project in Berkeley poised to create 42 studios, and Contra Costa County acquiring a $16 million office complex transformation that will cater to 54 individuals. Further, in the City of Los Angeles, The Weingart Shelby acquired for $26.6 million, will metamorphose an assisted living facility into 78 units of supportive housing—the Housing Authority of Los Angeles with three additional projects, and partnerships involving Hope the Mission and Weingart Center Association grabbed substantial funding for similar conversions and constructions.
Pablo Espinoza, Deputy Director of Communications for the HCD, cited the Homekey program as "a model for communities across the nation," owing to its innovative approach, and the various projects, which encompass hotel conversions and the remodeling of existing complexes, reflect the diverse application of these funds. With roughly $513 million left in the Homekey coffers HCD is reviewing further applications and will continue to announce grant recipients on a rolling basis until the allocated funds are exhausted.
Fully detailed information on the Homekey awards, along with the complete list of grant recipients, is available on the HCD’s website.
