Project Homekey

Extracted Attributes

• Launch Date

  2020-07-16

• Origin State

  California

• Initial Funding

  $846 million (including Federal CRF, State General Fund, and philanthropic contributions)

• Primary Objective

  Convert hotels, motels, and commercial properties into housing for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness

• Predecessor Program

  Project Roomkey

• Administering Agency

  California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)

Timeline

• The California Department of Housing and Community Development officially announces the launch of the Homekey program. (Source: https://www.novoco.com/notes-from-novogradac/homekey-program-provides-additional-subsidy-affordable-housing-development-across-california)

  2020-07-16

• Governor Gavin Newsom announces a partnership with Enterprise Community Partners to distribute $45 million in philanthropic funding for Homekey developments. (Source: https://www.novoco.com/notes-from-novogradac/homekey-program-provides-additional-subsidy-affordable-housing-development-across-california)

  2020-10-19

• Governor Gavin Newsom approves an additional $200 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds, raising total program funding to $845 million. (Source: https://www.novoco.com/notes-from-novogradac/homekey-program-provides-additional-subsidy-affordable-housing-development-across-california)

  2020-10-23

• Costa Mesa City Council directs staff to collaborate with Orange County to apply for Round 2 Homekey funding. (Source: https://www.costamesaca.gov/trending/project-homekey)

  2021-11-16

• The County of Orange and City of Costa Mesa are awarded $10,675,000 in Round 2 Homekey funds to convert a local Motel 6 into permanent housing. (Source: https://www.costamesaca.gov/trending/project-homekey)

  2022-04-25

Tom Umberg

Thomas John Umberg (born September 25, 1955) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Senate. A Democrat, he represents the 34th district, which encompasses parts of northern Orange County and a small portion of unincorporated Los Angeles County. Previously, he served in the California State Assembly, representing the 69th District. He is a partner at Umberg Zipser LLP in Orange County.

Web Search Results

• [PDF] HOMEKEY: California's Statewide Hotels-to-Housing Initiative

  which provides that any project receiving a financial award from the CRF for uses under Homekey was deemed to be consistent and in conformity with any applicable local plan, standard, or requirement, and allowed as a permitted use, within the zone in which the structure is located, and shall not be subject to a conditional use permit, discretionary permit, or to any other discretionary reviews or approvals. This provision allowed projects funded under Homekey to proceed “as of right” without further local review. • The state statute also exempted certain Homekey properties from the requirement to be reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as long as the projects met all items on a list of requirements. This provision was adopted because these projects, as existing [...] of converting hotels/motels, vacant property, or commercial office/retail into housing and successfully positioning the sites in the broader community and service portfolio. Accessing traditional funding sources such as tax credits, bonds, and gap financing is critically important to encouraging public entities and developers to become involved in supportive housing. • Access to vouchers, preferably to project-based vouchers, but also to tenant vouchers, helps to solidify rent payments and support the project. Partnering with Housing Authorities is strongly encouraged. Contact Information and Website Links California Department of Housing and Community Development Project Homekey website, which contains detailed program information, including the detailed Notice of Funding Availability [...] that Homekey had produced 6,029 units of housing in 94 separate projects with 51 separate local applicants. The state reported that the average state-level expenditure per Homekey unit was $123,987, supplemented by an average local match of $23,987 per unit, for an average total cost per unit of $147,974. One additional project was subsequently added, bringing the total number of units to 6,066 in 95 separate projects. See pages 9-13 for a complete list of projects and funding amounts. Amounts and sources of funding Homekey was funded at the state level with $700 million in Federal CRF through the CARES Act, $50 million in state appropriated dollars, and $46 million in philanthropic dollars, for a total of $846 million. The program allowed a maximum of $200,000 per unit in state funding,

• [PDF] California's Homekey Program: - Enterprise Community Partners

  Homekey builds on the success of Project Roomkey, California’s immediate response to the pandemic that created safe housing and shelter for unsheltered individuals and families in the earliest days of the pandemic. Roomkey sought to eliminate the need for congregate shelters among a particularly vulnerable group of Californians. Homekey expanded this approach by funding additional building types and supports for a broader population of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including interim and permanent solutions. [...] For more information, please visit: CASE STUDY: Valley Lodge Apartments Valley Lodge Apartments Napa, Napa County SNAPSHOT Project: Valley Lodge Apartments Project Team: City of Napa, Burbank Housing Development Corp., Abode Services, VOICES Napa Location: City of Napa Number of Doors Acquired: 54 Number of Units: 55 Number of Individuals Housed: 27 (Still Under Construction) Target Population Served: People (including Youth) Experiencing or At Risk of Homelessness Occupancy Type: Permanent Project Type: Acquisition/Rehab Building Type: Hotel/Motel Conversion Homekey Capital Award: $15,140,000 Homekey Operating Fund Award: $2,973,600 Total Homekey Award from HCD: $18,113,600 CASE STUDY: California’s Homekey Program: Innovation to Address Homelessness and Community Health at the Beginning [...] What’s Next California’s Homekey Program: Innovation to Address Homelessness and Community Health at the Beginning of a Pandemic 25 Enterprise Community Partners | enterprisecommunity.org Introduction The Valley Lodge Apartments Homekey project was created by a strong collaborative partnership between the City of Napa (as the lead public agency applicant), and nonprofit partners Burbank Housing Development, Abode Services, and VOICES (Voice Our Independent Choices for Emancipation Support) Napa. This coalition received $18,113,600 in Round 2 Homekey funding to rehabilitate and convert the former Wine Valley Lodge into Napa’s first fully permanent supportive housing. The Wine Valley Lodge had previously been a Roomkey project managed by Abode, providing emergency shelter to unhoused

• Project Homekey | City of Costa Mesa

  PHASE 1 will convert 40 Homekey-assisted units into housing with wraparound services for individuals earning 30% or less than the Area Median Income, 30 of which are permanent supportive housing units serving homeless veterans and 10 of which are set aside for homeless individuals who meet the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) eligibility criteria. The leasing office and interior/exterior common area spaces will be updated, as well as performing necessary improvements as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A 2-bedroom manager unit will be added to provide 24-hour, on-site supportive services. Phase 1 financing is scheduled to close in September 2022, with construction beginning in October 2022 and concluding in April 2023. [...] November 16, 2021 – Costa Mesa City Council directs staff to collaborate with the County of Orange and Community Development Partners to submit an application to State HCD for Homekey Round 2 funding for the Motel 6 project. Additionally, City Council approves the commitment of $3.5M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to assist in the acquisition and conversion of Homekey projects in the City of Costa Mesa. April 25, 2022 – County of Orange and City of Costa Mesa are awarded $10,675,000 in Round 2 Homekey funds to acquire and convert of the Motel 6 located at 2274 Newport Blvd into permanent housing. For more information regarding the City’s Homekey award, please click here. PROJECT DESCRIPTION [...] PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Motel 6 property located at 2274 Newport Blvd involves the acquisition and two-phase adaptive re-use of an 88-unit motel into permanent housing. All units will be converted to 300-square-foot studio apartments with new kitchenettes, countertops, flooring, paint, fixtures, appliances, and furniture. Additional common areas for residents will include a new outdoor patio, smoking area, dog run, and community garden to encourage social interaction among residents. Pedestrian access at Newport Blvd will be enhanced, encouraging residents to walk to nearby community and commercial amenities. Aesthetic improvements will include building façade enhancements, public art, and substantial upgrades to existing landscaped areas.

• Homekey - LA County Homeless Services & Housing

  Provider Resources # Homekey Homekey is the fastest, largest, and most cost-effective addition of interim and permanent housing in California history. Initially launched to protect vulnerable residents from COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic, Homekey makes grant funding from the state Department of Housing and Community Development available to cities, counties, housing authorities, tribal entities, and other local public entities to acquire and then convert hotels, motels, multi-family apartments, and more, into permanent or interim housing. To date, Los Angeles County has used Homekey to acquire 32 properties (2,157 units), mostly hotels and motels, to convert into interim and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. Homekey Referrals [...] ## Homekey Round 1 Launched in 2020, Homekey 1.0 enabled the County to acquire 10 motels with a combined 847 units in Baldwin Park, Compton, Hacienda Heights, Harbor City, Long Beach, Norwalk, Whittier, and unincorporated Los Angeles. Sharonda, Laura, Beverly and Halmut are just a few of the people who have stayed at Homekey 1.0 properties. One property immediately became PSH, but the rest started out as interim housing. The goal is for all sites to eventually transition to PSH. Homekey project site, providing supportive housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. ## Don't miss an update. Subscribe to the newsletter now. [...] A vibrant community space with colorful pathways and supportive housing, fostering hope and connection for residents. #### Homekey for Families in Lancaster Homekey for Families in Lancaster 600 541 LA County Homeless Services & Housing LA County Homeless Services & Housing //homeless.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/newHIlogo.png Four community leaders in hard hats stand together, smiling and holding shovels at a groundbreaking ceremony for new housing. #### Homekey Project Near Exposition Park Homekey Project Near Exposition Park 600 541 LA County Homeless Services & Housing LA County Homeless Services & Housing //homeless.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/newHIlogo.png More Stories ## Homekey Round 3

• Homekey Program Provides Additional Subsidy for Affordable Housing Development Across California

  The Homekey program is a new housing initiative announced July 16 by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. It expands housing opportunities for households experiencing homelessness and those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the initial legislation, $600 million in funding was available for Homekey grants in two pools: $550 million from the state's direct allocation of the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund, which must be expended by Dec. 30, 2020, and $50 million from the state General Fund, which must be expended by June 30, 2022. [...] On Oct. 19, 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a partnership with Enterprise Community Partners to distribute an additional $45 million in funding for Homekey developments. Furthermore, on Oct. 23, Gov. Newsom announced the approval of $200 million in additional Coronavirus Relief Funds for the Homekey program, making the total funding for the Homekey program $845 million. As of Oct. 29, $835.6 million (of the $845 million) in Homekey funds were awarded to 93 developments, totaling 6,055 affordable rental homes. This demonstrates the Homekey program’s immediate impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] Homekey developments will receive assistance for site selection. The California state legislature passed a bill that broadens developers’ site selection options for Homekey developments. California Assembly Bill 83 Section 21 allows for any property that receives funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide housing for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness are deemed to be allowed under local land use laws. This allows for developers to acquire and convert properties in zones that do not permit residential uses. The Homekey program is empowering developers to quickly expand the affordable housing supply for homeless households across California during the COVID-19 pandemic.