California's effort to create emergency supportive housing options during the pandemic has completed a large-scale acquisition process.
"Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that all 94 Homekey projects have closed escrow, buildings that will provide 6,029 critically needed housing units for people experiencing homelessness throughout California," according to a press release from Gov. Newsom's office.
The state used total of $750 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars to help finance 51 applicants for the 94 projects. "In addition, $96 million in operating supports – a combination of state funds and philanthropic investment – has also been fully awarded. In total, Homekey utilized $846 million to rapidly purchase and subsidize these 6,029 units in less than six months from start to finish," according to the press release.
"The purpose of these acquisitions is to create permanent places for at-risk individuals experiencing homelessness to live safely, protecting them from many public health risks including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic."
Several media outlets, local and national, have been tracking Project Homekey in recent months. Here's a sample of recent news coverage about the ongoing effort to protect the state of California's large population of unhoused residents during the pandemic.
- LA City Council continues to convert hotels into interim housing thanks to Project Homekey (Archinect, December 15, 2020)
- Can Gov. Gavin Newsom use the pandemic to beat back homelessness? (ABC 10, November 30, 2020)
- Project Homekey changes lives for the better (OC Register, November 28, 2020)
- Project Homekey proceeds over local objections (Los Angeles Daily News, October 22, 2020)
- California’s Project Homekey Turns Hotels into Housing (Next City, September 29, 2020)
FULL STORY: Governor Newsom Announces Major Homekey Milestone: All 94 Sites Closing Escrow Ahead of Deadline
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two ‘behavioral health’ bills that put Proposition 1 on the March 2024 ballot, targeting the housing, mental health, and substance use treatment needs of homeless residents living in encampments. Opposition has arisen.
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