By SDCN Staff
Los Angeles, CA–Alongside state and local leaders at a new Homekey project in Los Angeles preparing to welcome tenants, Governor Gavin Newsom Wednesday announced the award of $694 million for 35 projects that will create more than 2,500 new units in 19 communities throughout the state.
In total, including the announcement, California’s nation-leading Homekey program has funded more than 200 projects statewide – creating more than 12,500 permanent and interim homes for people exiting homelessness.
“With 12,500 new homes funded in just two years, Homekey is changing lives across the state,” said Governor Newsom. “Homekey’s groundbreaking success is a model for the nation, showing that we can make real progress on ending homelessness in months, not years. In partnership with cities and counties like Los Angeles, we’ll continue to safely house Californians in need faster and more cost-effectively than ever.”
The governor celebrated Homekey’s recent two-year anniversary at a volunteer workday for a Los Angeles Homekey project, where he assisted in assembling welcome kits as part of the site’s move-in preparations. Including the awards, the Los Angeles region has to date received $948 million for 62 Homekey projects that will create 4,034 units of housing. The Governor was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez, and Department of Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez.
“Homekey is more than just another tool in our toolbox in the work to end homelessness – it’s an opportunity for thousands to start anew, and an injection of pride and dignity that can keep Angelenos off the street for good,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Thanks to this latest infusion of funds, hundreds of people experiencing homelessness today will be offered the stability of a permanent home, the safety of a door with a lock, and the services they need to get back on their feet.”
Homekey has become a national model for how to quickly deploy emergency funds to meet the diverse needs of rural, suburban, urban and tribal communities working to expand homeless housing. Building on the program’s success, the state budget signed by Newsom this year invests an additional $150 million, bringing total Homekey funding to $3.75 billion.
