The State of California has approved $24.6 million in Homekey funding for two projects that will provide much-needed new housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Santa Rosa. The City of Santa Rosa applied for the funding with two non-profit partners—Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa and St. Vincent de Paul. Together, the two funded projects will provide 90 housing units and comprehensive wrap-around services, such as job training and mental health support.
“These awards are an extraordinary opportunity to assist Santa Rosa’s homeless residents,” said Megan Bassinger, Director of the Housing and Community Development Department. “Identifying and implementing solutions to the critical concern of homelessness is a top priority for the City Council and many of our community members. Each of these newly funded housing units is a tangible, life-changing opportunity for a person or family experiencing homelessness, as well as an opportunity to reduce the impacts of homelessness on the entire community.”
Caritas Center, an innovative project by Catholic Charities being built in downtown Santa Rosa, will receive $11.36 million in funding for 40 new units of housing for residents experiencing homelessness. The project will create a housing-focused service center and emergency family shelter with comprehensive wrap-around services, including case management plans, mental health services, educational and job training, and more. Caritas Center is the homeless services component of Catholic Charities’ larger Caritas Village project, which features two phases of affordable housing development with Burbank Housing. Construction of Caritas Center is scheduled for completion late this summer. Visit caritas-village.org for more information about the project.
St. Vincent de Paul Commons, owned and operated by St. Vincent de Paul, will receive approximately $13.29 million in Homekey funding to create 50 permanent supportive housing units at the former Gold Coin Motel, located at 2400 Mendocino Ave. The 50 units will be accompanied by on-site services that include counseling, job and life-skills workshops, continuing education, and preventative healthcare. A building permit for the project was issued in December, and renovation of the former hotel is planned to begin following receipt of Homekey funding. Visit svdp-sonoma.org for information about the project.
The City submitted the two joint applications to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in December 2021 and January 2022 and received confirmation today that the awards were approved.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the latest round of awards for homeless housing projects across the state at a Homekey site in Los Angeles. The awards announced today will create 2,499 units statewide, the largest batch announced to date under the innovative program to help local governments expand permanent, long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The state budget signed by the Governor this year invested an additional $150 million, bringing total Homekey funding to $3.75 billion.
Visit srcity.org/Housing-CommunityServices for more information about the City's response to homelessness and its work to help create affordable housing in Santa Rosa, or visit homekey.hcd.ca.gov for more information about Homekey Program.