March 2023

Like so many in Butte County, Leon* lost his home in the devastating 2018 Camp Fire, the most destructive wildfire in California history. Since then, Leon had been living in a recreational vehicle on his property.

While the RV had some creature comforts, Leon said it was cramped and not designed for permanent habitation. In addition, Leon’s temporary occupancy permit was expiring, and he was on the verge of being asked to vacate the property. Thankfully, Leon moved into his new home just in time.

“I’m excited to be out of the RV and in a real home,” Leon said.

Leon received assistance from HCD’s RecoverCA Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Program (OOR), which helps eligible homeowners apply for gap funding to help rebuild a home damaged or destroyed by a federally recognized natural disaster. After Leon completed a pre-application survey and was invited to apply for the program, Leon’s case manager, Amelia*, helped him navigate through the application and construction process. Once construction began, it took less than ten weeks to complete. Last month, Amelia and three representatives from RecoverCA Construction Management were thrilled to hand Leon the keys to his newly built home.

“I would like to thank all of the people who have worked to make this possible,” Leon said. “(ReCoverCA) did an outstanding job building my house. I have a happy future thanks to my new home.”

Amelia, also a Butte County local, volunteered at a local church that supported and sheltered evacuees during the Camp Fire. She said helping Leon and others complete their RecoverCA applications and navigate the process has been rewarding. On the day of the key turnover, Amelia said, “(Leon) gave me a big hug. He gave me a tour and was excited to say the spare room is for his grandkids to stay.”

The ReCoverCA program continues to rebuild homes throughout California, with many more key turnovers expected in the near future.

“(RecoverCA) has been a godsend to me and those of us who suffered from the fire,” said Leon. “We lost so much, and now we’re building our lives back. Thanks to you all.”

For more information on the RecoverCA program, please visit our website at www.hcd.ca.gov/recoverca. For questions, please contact program staff at (916) 202-1764 or email RecoverCA@hcd.ca.gov.

*Names have been changed for privacy.

Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the availability of approximately $736 million in Homekey funding for local governments to build or purchase housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

To date, Homekey has created 12,774 permanent and interim homes through 210 projects across the state. This additional Homekey investment provides an opportunity to extend and scale up efforts to swiftly expand and sustain housing.

What Governor Newsom said: “At a time when more housing is desperately needed, Homekey is proving that we can build faster, and at a fraction of conventional construction costs. My Administration has made available an unprecedented $3.4 billion to date for Homekey to use at the local level to address housing and homelessness. I look forward to seeing more communities use this latest round of funding to boost housing around the state.”

Homekey is a proven model for state, regional, and local public entities to acquire, develop, and rehabilitate a broad range of housing types, including but not limited to hotels, motels, hostels, single-family homes, multifamily apartments, adult residential facilities, and manufactured housing, and to convert commercial properties and other existing buildings to permanent or interim housing for those most in need.

“Homekey continues to demonstrate California’s commitment to work with local partners to expand the housing supply and build new homes for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “With this new investment we are one step closer to housing and supporting Californians that lack a decent, safe and dignified place to call home.”

Administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), approximately $736 million in grant funding is available to cities, counties, or other local public entities, such as housing authorities or federally and non-federally recognized Indian tribes within California. Funds are available as part of Homekey grants, Round 3, Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

“We are pleased to release this third round of Homekey funding,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “Adding more interim and permanent homes faster than ever before is crucial to ending and preventing homelessness. State and local collaboration have been key to the success of Homekey, and we must continue to act with urgency to accelerate housing production at all income levels and affirmatively further fair housing.”

Due to the previous oversubscription of Homekey, eligible applicants are encouraged to submit their completed application as soon as possible. HCD will accept applications on a continuous, over-the-counter basis from the release of the Homekey NOFA through July 28, 2023, or until the available funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first.

To receive information on the upcoming Homekey NOFA webinar and other updates, please subscribe to the Department’s Homelessness Prevention Programs listserv at https://www.hcd.ca.gov.  [hcd.ca.gov.]