Newsom Proclaims $2.75 Billion Enlargement of Homekey, Largest Homeless Funding in State Historical past – CBS San Francisco
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) – Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a $ 2.75 billion expansion of the state’s homeless housing initiative, the largest homeless housing investment in the state’s history.
The massive investment in California’s Homekey Initiative will be used to buy and renovate buildings such as hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, tiny homes, and other properties. The governor’s office expects the investment to result in approximately 14,000 permanent, long-term housing options for the state’s homeless.
CONTINUE READING: President Biden Announces New Federal COVID Vaccine Mandate For Private Companies
“California is moving at an unprecedented pace to house homeless people through Homekey,” Newsom said. “We’re working hard to find solutions that work – by addressing the homelessness crisis directly with a constructive, compassionate approach and a focus on caring for people with the most acute behavioral health needs. This investment will enable us to build on the groundbreaking success of Homekey – to create more living space faster, more responsibly and more efficiently. “
Homekey’s expansion comes after Newsom signed a housing and homelessness financing package earlier this year as part of its California comeback plan. The plan is investing $ 12 billion in combating homelessness, of which $ 5.8 billion – including the $ 2.75 billion for Homekey Expansion – was used to set up up to 42,000 new shelters for the homeless Housing treatment beds used for people with the most acute behavioral health needs.
CONTINUE READING: SFMTA: All San Francisco cable car services suspended after cable car barn evacuation and power outage
CONTINUE READING: Project Homekey: Counties in the Bay Area to receive $ 73 million for housing the homeless in the final round of grants
The Newsom office said the additional homekey funding builds on the $ 846 million initial phase investment that resulted in 94 projects in counties and tribal areas across the state.
Since launching in 2020, Homekey has been the fastest, largest, and most affordable permanent home extension in California history, according to Newsom’s office. Within a year of its launch, Homekey provided thousands of Californians with secure protection from COVID-19, creating 6,000 affordable homes in record time and at a fraction of the cost.
MORE NEWS: Quick thinking Mountain View police officer salutes for the rescue of a suffocating infant
“Amid a pandemic, California has taken bold steps to protect those affected by homelessness by creating more than 6,000 housing units with the first round of homekey funding,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, secretary of business, consumers – and housing authority. “It was the largest single building of permanent housing in the history of the state, but our work is far from over. With the next round of homekey funding, the state will continue to work with our local partners to protect vulnerable Californians by providing safe spaces to call their own. “
