Governor Gavin Newsom announced the latest in a series of awards to local governments for Homekey, California’s nation-leading program confronting the homelessness crisis by rapidly creating housing by purchasing hotels, motels, and other buildings. With these projects, the program has surpassed 10,000 units funded since it began less than two years ago. Governor Newsom also previewed his proposal to add $150 million in funding for Homekey, bringing the total Homekey funding to $3.75 billion.
The list of awards to Los Angeles County included:
- The County of Los Angeles will receive $37.3 million to acquire a turnkey converted motel, providing 101 units for permanent supportive housing. Amenities include an on-site mobile clinic/health facility with pharmacy, access to transit within a half-mile, and access to a library and multiple grocery stores within a mile. Supportive services include case management services with individualized services planning & connections to mental health providers, substance use programs, financial training, employment training, health services, and housing retention programs.
- The County of Los Angeles will receive $33.8 million for the 818 Hotel project. The 818 Hotel is the conversion of a motel into 100 units of interim housing for families experiencing chronic homelessness or homelessness, located in the Woodland Hills neighborhood. Each unit will be furnished with mezzanine beds, a desk area, storage, a mini-fridge and microwave. Three meals will be provided each day prepared by Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission’s culinary team at their central commissary. The site is within a half mile of public transit, a grocery store, pharmacy, medical facility, a high school, and within a mile of a community college. Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission will provide supportive services including permanent housing navigation, case management, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution.
- The County of Los Angeles will receive $19.5 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 53-unit hotel for permanent supportive housing, serving entirely chronically homeless households. Off-site amenities include access to transit, a medical clinic, pharmacy, and grocery store all within a half-mile. Supportive services include case management services with individualized services planning & connections to mental health providers, substance use programs, financial training, employment training, health services, and housing retention programs.
- The County of Los Angeles has been awarded $5.5 million to purchase a project that proposes the acquisition and rehabilitation of a 20-room hotel. This project will provide interim housing for homeless families while providing wrap-around supportive services.
- The County of Los Angeles will receive $12.9 million for the Sierra Highway Hotel project. The project converts two adjacent motels into interim housing in the Lancaster community of Los Angeles. The two motels will be converted into 38 units for people experiencing homelessness and chronic homelessness, and supportive service space. The motels are in good enough condition to be rehabilitated and placed in service within eight months of the Homekey award.
- The County of Los Angeleswill receive $9.7 million to acquire a 40-unit motel as interim housing for people experiencing homelessness or chronic homeless. The Tropicana project includes on-site wrap-around supportive services and close proximity to amenities such as public transit stops, grocery stores, medical facilities, pharmacy, schools, and parks and daycare.
- The County of Los Angeles will receive $7.3 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 21-unit former hotel in Redondo Beach, providing permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless households. Off-site amenities, located within a half-mile of the project include a health facility, pharmacy, and public transit. The project will partner with several service providers to provide supportive services such as intensive case management.
- The County of Los Angeleswill also receive $25.2 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 76-unit hotel for permanent supportive housing, serving entirely chronically homeless households. The property is centrally located near amenities and is just steps away from a transit station. It is within one-half mile of a grocery store, health facility, and pharmacy. Supportive services include case management, benefits advocacy, payee services, linkage and referrals, medical, mental health and substance abuse linkages.
- The County of Los Angeleswill also receive $14.7 million for a 44-unit hotel conversion project in Westlake. The Lyfe Inn will provide interim housing serving medium to large homeless and chronically homeless families. Seven units will be accessible for those with mobility disabilities and five units will be accessible for those with audio-visual disabilities. Comprehensive on-site services will include a commissary that provides three meals a day, case management, housing navigation, crisis intervention and conflict resolution. The site is within easy walking distance to MacArthur Park, the metro rail station, a large grocery store, a pharmacy and two large medical centers.
- The County of Los Angeles has also been awarded $13.8 million to purchase a project that proposes the conversion of a 40-room housing facility located in the heart of the Boyle Heights neighborhood to provide interim housing for youth at-risk of homelessness. This is a historic property that formerly served as a boarding house for repatriated Japanese Americans, who had been forced to leave LA and move into internment camps during WW2, to get back on their feet and to rebuild their lives. The grantees intend to continue the legacy of providing hope and opportunity through the program. As such, they have named this new property, “Dunamis House.” The Ancient Greek translation of Dunamis is power and potential.