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NEWS RELEASE
June 17, 2022
State Announces Nearly $25 Million in Funding
For Homekey Projects in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara Counties
Sites to include housing for youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness
SACRAMENTO – The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) and the Department of Housing and Community Development today joined Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Santa Cruz) and representatives for Senator John Laird (D-Santa) Cruz at the county’s first Homekey site – Veterans Village in Ben Lomond – to announce the county’s second Homekey award: $10.7 million for construction of 36 new apartments for unhoused and at-risk veterans, young adults and families with children.\
The site is one of two announced this week. The other is in Santa Clara County and received $14.3 million. When operational, both sites will provide 79 homes, with a particular focus on youth. When added to other Homekey Round 2 awards, the state has funded 72 projects statewide so far this year, for a total of more than $1.15 billion. Since announcing Governor Newsom’s $2.75 billion extension of Homekey back in September, the state has already approved projects that – when completed – will create more than 4,000 units of housing.
“The awards announced today are a signal to our young people and families in need of assistance in these two cities that help is on the way,” Governor Newsom said. “Our commitment continues to be to use every tool available to us to get Californians of all ages the housing and services they need. And Homekey continues to lead the way with targeted investments and innovation.”
“Resources derived from Homekey will be used to maximize safe, permanent, supportive housing and on-site services for our local veterans, students and families who are unsheltered in Santa Cruz County,” said Senator Laird. “Thank you to the Newsom Administration and all those who have led efforts to provide affordable housing solutions in our city and county government along with the passionate advocates who are determined to make Santa Cruz County affordable for all.”
Assemblymember Stone added, “The high population of unhoused youth and veterans is frankly unacceptable, and it is our responsibility to provide them with proper stability and support. These new housing projects will help us to do just that. This is an important and proactive step in combatting the homeless crisis.”
“About 80 percent of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in California are unsheltered, sleeping in cars, on sidewalks, or in places not meant for human habitation,” said California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “We know that to end homelessness, youth and young adults need stable housing, supportive connections and access to services. This requires significant investments from the state and decisive action from our local partners, such as those we see in Homekey.”
“Last year, more than 22,000 unhoused youth accessed homelessness services across the state,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “Through the data we have gathered in the Statewide Housing Plan, we know how great a need there is for unhoused Californians at all ages, and that’s why we have targeted set-asides in programs like Homekey. The two projects approved today will provide an additional 79 homes with a particular focus on youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness at a time when we know a stable home can make a huge difference for their futures.”
The Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in California developed by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness includes strategies for preventing and ending homelessness for youth and young adults, in partnership with state agencies, local governments and community-based organizations.
Today’s Homekey awards include the following projects:
- Santa Clara County Housing Authority, along with Jamboree Housing Corporation (borrower entity JHC-4th Street LLC) will receive more than $14.3 million to acquire and rehabilitate the Pavilion Inn. This 43-unit project will solely serve formerly homeless youth or youth at risk of homelessness. The Bill Wilson Center will provide supportive services, which will include meal and food support, for some of the City’s most vulnerable residents. The site is within a half mile of transit, and within a mile of a health facility, library and pharmacy.
- The County of Santa Cruz, Novin Development Corp. and Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing will receive $10.7 million for construction of 36 new apartments to provide affordable housing for homeless and at-risk veterans, young adults, and families with children. The units will range in size from one to two bedrooms, with all standard apartment features.
“There’s a critical need for service-enriched affordable housing for transitional-aged youth and their families in our community, particularly those experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” said Preston Prince, Executive Director of the Santa Clara County Housing Authority. “This project is a wonderful example of the alignment between our local governmental agencies and our nonprofit partners. By bringing together the County of Santa Clara, City of San Jose, Jamboree Housing Corporation, Bill Wilson Center and ourselves, our collective impact and leverage is so much greater. We look forward to welcoming home our future residents.”
Today’s announcement in Santa Cruz was preceded by an hour-long roundtable discussion at the Veterans Village Homekey site in Ben Lomond, where Secretary Castro Ramírez heard from leaders of Santa Cruz County, the city of Santa Cruz, managers and residents of Veterans Village and other private, public and nonprofit sector leaders in the area. They discussed how the Veterans Village project came about, what lessons have been learned, and suggestions for future projects.
In addition to the projects announced today, Homekey proposals that have already been conditionally approved, but are not yet funded, will remain in HCD’s queue for future grant consideration, upon appropriation by the Legislature of additional funding. For more information, please visit the Homekey webpage. The Department of Housing and Community Development has also created the Homekey Awards Dashboard where Californians can track Homekey project awards by dollar totals, project type, progress and region. The dashboard is updated in real time as additional projects are approved. Additional Homekey awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
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The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency protects consumers by licensing and regulating California professionals and businesses; guards the civil rights of all Californians from acts of hate violence and unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations; promotes and funds safe, affordable and dignified rental and homeownership opportunities; and partners with local communities to prevent and end homelessness.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development is dedicated to the preservation and expansion of safe and affordable housing, so more Californians have a place to call home. Our team works to ensure an adequate supply of housing for Californians and promotes the growth of strong communities through its leadership, policy and program development. For more information, please visit www.hcd.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter, @California_HCD; Facebook, @CaliforniaHCD; and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Russ Heimerich, BCSH (916) 651-1385
Monica Hernandez, HCD (916) 890-5240
