May 2024

HCD today joined the City of Stanton in celebrating the grand opening of three new Homekey conversion projects: Clara Vista, Illuma, and Aurora Vista. Together, these affordable housing developments provide 153 permanent supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Originally starting as local area motels that had fallen into disrepair, Clara Vista and Aurora Vista were only separated by a small strip of land. During the conversion process, that land was purchased along with the motels to create a common space between them, providing shared garden beds, a computer lab, and a game room for residents.

Illuma, located two miles from the site of the other two projects, was quickly turned into temporary housing for the unhoused through Project Roomkey, a lifesaving state response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s grand opening marks the completion of the fully renovated building, changing from a temporary respite to a permanent, long-term supportive housing solution.

Projects of the City of Stanton, the County of Orange, and Jamboree Housing, HCD’s Homekey program provided over $23 million for the acquisition and conversion of these three properties. Homekey, a statewide program to sustain and rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness, has funded 250 projects and 15,300 homes.

Creating more affordable housing that includes critical supportive services for people and veterans experiencing homelessness has long been a goal of the Newsom administration. Voter-approved Proposition 1 will continue to help create that housing, fully supporting unhoused individuals, veterans, and those who are at risk of homelessness throughout California.

Aurora Vista - Photo credit: Juan Tallo

Clara Vista - Photo credit: Juan Tallo

Iluma - Photo credit: Juan Tallo

After a week full of remembrances honoring the lives of those who died in service to our nation’s freedoms, state leaders were greatly moved by the opportunity to help The Veterans Collective—led by Century Housing and U.S.Vets—welcome 87 new permanent homes for veterans in need, as the sprawling West LA Veterans Affairs campus broke ground on two more buildings.

This morning, state and community leaders picked up their shovels to break ground on West LA VA Building 158 (49 units) and Building 210 (38 units). The campus is being built in four phases. 237 homes have already been completed, and the development plan calls for more than 1,700 total homes at completion, with at least 1,200 permanent supportive units.

With $169.4 million invested in the West LA VA campus to date, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) are playing a crucial role in bringing more than 1,200 permanent homes to a population and community with urgent need.

“The transformation of the West LA VA campus is a testament to what we can achieve through dedicated collaboration and commitment to addressing the needs of our veteran community," said CalVet Secretary Lindsey Sin. "We are committed to ensuring that every veteran has access to the supportive services and housing they deserve, and this groundbreaking marks a significant step toward that goal.

“HCD is honored to lay the groundwork to create housing stability for those who have served our nation, through investments in infrastructure and permanent supportive homes,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “What is being accomplished here for California’s deserving veterans reflects what we can do for Californians in need across this great state—building on the success modeled by Homekey—thanks to voter approval of Proposition 1.”

State funding for the campus includes $61.4 million from the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention (VHHP) program. HCD regularly consults with CalVet during the VHHP application review process, while CalVet reviews supportive service plans and disabled veteran business enterprise documentation. Additional funding includes $53.3 million from the HCD-administered No Place Like Home Program, $19.2 million from the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program administered in partnership with the California Strategic Growth Council, and $15.5 million from the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program. The West LA Veterans Collective also received a $21 million allocation in the 2021 State Budget.

HCD and CalVet will both be partners in implementing voter-approved Proposition 1 in the years ahead, bringing the promise of expanded permanent supportive housing opportunities for people with behavioral health challenges statewide.

Mobilehomes are a key source of affordable homeownership in CA, but many homes and Mobile Home parks are overdue for costly repairs. Learn how HCD is helping through the Manufactured Housing Opportunity & Revitalization Program (Video 1 of 3). Visit HCD’s website for more information.

HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez joined Sacramento leaders and community members to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of new supportive affordable housing in downtown Sacramento.

Funded by more than $23 million from HCD’s Homekey program, Central Sacramento Studios was converted from a Best Western hotel into 92 permanent supportive homes. The goal of the Homekey program is to rapidly expand the availability of affordable homes to help house people who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

“Homekey has been a speedy way in which we have turned facilities like this into housing for people who need it the most,” said Director Velasquez. “Proposition 1 has passed, and now there is an opportunity to continue this program.”

The success of Homekey, which has already funded 15,319 homes, will be expanded under voter-approved Proposition 1, ensuring California’s most vulnerable residents have permanent homes with access to vital supportive services.

“Finally, people are paying attention to behavioral health and the connection between behavioral health and housing,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg at the ceremony. “People need a safe place to live if they are going to have a place to heal.”

A project of Danco Communities, Central Sacramento Studios is located near transit and essential amenities and has a community room, outdoor recreation space, community garden, a fitness center, a laundry facility, a pool, and a dog park. Residents also have access to on-site support services offered by Lifesteps.

Mike, a current resident of Central Sacramento Studios, became homeless in 2019. He said he lived in his truck until he found temporary residence in a Project Roomkey facility, which led to his current permanent residence.

“It has felt like home since the first day I walked in,” said Mike. “I would still be sitting in my truck down along the American River if it wasn’t for this place.”

View the video below to hear more about the Homekey program and the importance of affordable housing.

A “welcoming ceremony” was recently held in the City of Tulare, as residents of a 57-unit permanent supportive housing project, formerly known as Tagus Gardens, returned to their newly revitalized homes. Tagus Gardens, a Project Roomkey-funded motel conversion, was a promise of interim shelter and safety for dozens of homeless individuals in Tulare County during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Within a year of opening, however, Tagus Gardens experienced severe hardships that forced residents to relocate to nearby Visalia in 2021. With the support of more than $14 million from HCD’s Homekey Program, Tagus Gardens was updated and converted into permanent studio apartments and renamed Madson Gardens.

This month marks a milestone for the newly renovated Madson Gardens, as residents who were housed at the property in its early days returned. A project of UPholdings and the County of Tulare, Madson Gardens serves people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Homekey, a successful statewide program to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness, provides housing stability for some of California’s most vulnerable residents. Proposition 1, a recently passed initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, includes a bond to build treatment facilities and permanent supportive housing for people with mental health and addiction challenges. Today, Madson Gardens stands as a shining example of what can come from positive change, as HCD greatly expands on the Homekey model in the years ahead.

Developers recently broke ground on the much-anticipated Oakland affordable housing project known as East 12th Street. Located at the corner of East 12th and 2nd Streets near Lake Merritt, this multi-story housing development will provide 91 affordable homes to low- and very low-income households, with a quarter of the homes set aside as permanent supportive housing for those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Projects of this nature are expected to expand statewide following voter approval of Proposition 1.

This project is a joint effort between three Oakland-based partners: East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, The Unity Council, and Jordan Real Estate Investments. It was made possible in part by $10.9 million from HCD’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program.

“We are proud of this public-private partnership,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “The level of teamwork across all the agencies—and the resiliency of East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation and its affordable development partners to navigate COVID setbacks—has been a testimony to our shared commitment to housing and infrastructure investment.”

In addition to affordable housing, this project also includes infrastructure improvements for public areas surrounding the complex and sustainable transportation for the area. The City of Oakland was awarded $40.7 million from HCD’s Infill Infrastructure Grant Catalytic Qualifying Infill Area program to assist with these improvements, which include street, sidewalk, and pedestrian improvements; enhanced transit accessibility; and the installation of a bikeshare station.

Audience at groundbreaking ceremony

Rendering of East 12th Street. Courtesy of BOGZA

Series of videos highlighting HCD’s Disaster Recovery programs and the communities they serve. Part 3 of 3. Please visit HCD's vital Disaster Recovery programs for more information.

In case you missed it: View Part 1 and Part 2 of the video series.

HCD recently joined in celebrating the grand opening of College Heights Cottages, a new supportive affordable housing complex in Bakersfield. College Heights Cottages features 28 homes for very low-income individuals and families, with half of those homes reserved as permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.

This community was funded by HCD’s No Place Like Home (NPLH) program, which supports the development of housing for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness that includes access to critical services including behavioral health care and life skills training. Recent voter approval of Proposition 1 helps ensure a significant increase in permanent supportive housing will soon enter the construction pipeline.

College Heights Cottages was developed by Golden Empire Affordable Housing Inc. and was designed with community at its heart, providing tenants with necessary housing as well as social and recreational opportunities. The complex includes seven 4-plexes located around a central community building and parking area and a home for an on-site manager. Residents can enjoy outdoor lawns and picnic areas, including barbeque facilities, as well as indoor community areas with laundry and kitchen facilities and a large community room. The complex is located near public transit, schools, jobs, and vital services, opening residents to opportunity.

Series of videos highlighting HCD’s Disaster Recovery programs and the communities they serve. Part 2 of 3. Please visit HCD's Disaster Recovery programs for more information.