Two planned homeless housing projects are moving forward in the East Bay after millions in state grants were allocated toward putting a roof over the heads of almost a hundred unhoused residents.
The state this week announced more than $30 million from its Homekey homeless housing program will go to the facilities expected to open in Berekely and San Pablo, as the Bay Area continues ramping up efforts to bring thousands of homeless people off the street.
Both sites will offer social services and allow residents to stay permanently.
In Berekely, more than $14 million will help buy the former Rodeway Inn motel at 1461 University Ave. and convert it to 42 studio apartments. The city has already been leasing the property to temporarily shelter local homeless people. Renovations are expected to start in the spring.
It’s Berkeley’s second award from the Homekey program. In 2020, the city won $16 million to transform the former Golden Bear Inn on San Pablo Avenue into supportive housing.
“We’re proud of our work to continue adapting to needs and developing innovative solutions to build housing,” Lisa Warhuus, director of Bekreley’s Health, Housing, and Community Services department, said in a statement. “While this one project doesn’t solve all housing needs for everyone, it is another important tool for us, especially as it provides supportive housing.”
In San Pablo, $16 million will go to buy a remodeled office complex at 2555 El Portal Drive and convert it to 54 studio apartments. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2024, and the site will open soon after. It’s the first Homekey project in San Pablo and the second in Contra Costa County.
“Shared vision and strong partnerships helped turn a vacant office building into 54 units of permanent supportive housing for previously unhoused individuals,” John Gioia, chair of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, said in a statement.
Since its start in 2020, the $3.75 billion Homekey program has funded the creation of more than 14,600 units of temporary shelter and long-term housing for homeless people. In the core Bay Area, Homekey has put more than $800 million toward 40 projects totaling about 3,500 planned or completed units. There are an estimated 31,000 homeless people in the five-county region.
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“Homekey continues to be one of California’s most successful efforts to rapidly create housing for people struggling with homelessness,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.
A Bay Area News Group review of the program, however, found that some sites with habitability and drug issues and that hundreds of people who spent time at the facilities in the region wound up back on the street.
For this latest round of Homekey awards, the state is also handing out about $150 million to seven projects in Los Angeles County to create 516 new homes and shelter units.
