Jordan Downs in South LA is undergoing a major transformation from a WWII-era housing complex into a vibrant community with 1,500 new affordable and low-income homes. 

The contrast between the original 1940s buildings and the newly constructed developments—led by BRIDGE Housing, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and a broad network of partners—highlights the scale and impact of the Jordan Downs transformation. 

With support from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the Strategic Growth Council, and the City of Los Angeles, this long-term effort reflects a shared commitment to housing equity, community investment, and sustainable urban growth.

Jesse Owens Park in Los Angeles hosted a service connection day, a collaborative event sponsored by the State of California, city and county of Los Angeles to support individuals in interim housing on their journey to permanent stability. 

Attendees accessed vital services from agencies like the DMV, Department of Social Services and others, helping them obtain essential documents such as IDs, birth certificates, social security cards—critical steps toward securing long-term housing and support. 

This event reflects a shared commitment to removing barriers and empowering people with the tools they need to rebuild their lives.

The State of California is taking bold steps to address homelessness and housing inequality. This video documents the cleanup of a large, unsafe encampment adjacent to Manchester Urban Homes —a new affordable housing community currently under construction in central Los Angeles. 

Through Governor Newsom’s SAFE initiative, unsheltered people staying in the encampment were connected to interim housing and the services they need to maintain a life lived off the streets. With support from the City of Los Angeles, HCD, and other partners, Manchester Urban Homes is more than housing—it’s a foundation for opportunity, equity, and hope.

Harrington Heights is a newly opened 273-unit affordable housing community in downtown San Diego, serving low- to extremely low-income individuals and families. The development includes studio and two-bedroom units, with dedicated housing for chronically homeless individuals, homeless veterans, and residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Each unit comes with essential appliances and climate control, while the property features rooftop decks, secure bike parking, subterranean parking, and a pet area. Located near grocery stores, clinics, transit, and community services, residents also have access to a free shuttle to St. Vincent de Paul’s main campus. On-site support includes medical care, case management, and life skills training, creating a stable and supportive environment for residents to thrive. 

Thank you to Chelsea Investment Corporation, the City of San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria, the California Strategic Growth Council, the California State Treasurer, and the San Diego Housing Commission. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive California.

While the Trump administration turns its back on those who served, California continues to honor its 1.5 million veterans — creating stronger supports and housing dedicated to serving veterans. Governor Gavin Newsom today announced new awards to fund the development of 707 permanent supportive homes with services for veterans and other Californians who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and living with behavioral health challenges, along with 13 manager units.

“We’re proud of our veterans — and California stands shoulder to shoulder with those who’ve served. We see their courage, their sacrifice, and we meet that with care, opportunity, and community. When they come home, we don’t just thank them — we honor them and work to make sure they have the housing, healthcare, and jobs to thrive,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

Finding affordable housing can be extremely difficult for veterans, especially if they have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, have suffered from a traumatic brain injury, or live with mental-health issues. Remaining stably housed can be even more difficult, especially without mental health support. 

California stands with veterans

Prop 1, which was championed by Governor Newsom and approved by voters in 2024, is transforming California’s mental health systems with a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for housing, services, and treatment for veterans and people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, more than $2.1 billion of this funding is available for local Homekey+ projects. Homekey+ provides funding for local communities to build permanent supportive housing with wrap-around services, with approximately 50% of the funding set aside for projects serving veterans.

Honoring those who served

In November 2024, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), in collaboration and partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), released a $2.145 billion Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for permanent supportive housing through the new Homekey+ program. Modeled after Governor Newsom’s highly successful Homekey program, Homekey+ was created with funding from voter-approved Proposition 1, which also provides funding to build residential care settings and expand access to behavioral health treatment.

In addition to the 16 projects newly awarded, five veteran-serving projects previously awarded received an augmentation of $30,000 per veterans unit for operating expenses based on the August 2025 NOFA amendment, for a total of just over $4 million.

With today’s awards, Homekey+ has so far allocated $540.4 million to support 32 projects that will create 1,517 affordable homes with supportive services throughout California. Of these homes, 395 are reserved for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness with behavioral health challenges.

“California is continuing to invest in people and neighborhoods across the state, providing affordable housing and supportive services for Californians who are experiencing homelessness and living with behavioral health challenges", said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. "Through Homekey+, California will once again lead—as it has on so many fronts—in demonstrating what is possible through interagency partnership, state and local collaboration, and a shared commitment to basic human dignity for our veterans and others facing behavioral health challenges.”

“Each of these awards represents a pathway to stability and opportunity for so many Californians who have struggled to maintain housing amid rising costs and personal challenges, including our nation’s veterans,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “Modeled on the Governor’s highly successful Homekey program—and made possible by the forward-thinking voters of this state—Homekey+ is laying the foundation for generational impacts and continued reductions in unsheltered homelessness.”

"CalVet celebrates another round of new Homekey+ awards, as well as expanded support for previously announced projects," said CalVet Secretary Lindsey Sin. "California once again demonstrates national leadership in providing housing solutions for veterans and their families. We recognize the dedication of the California Department of Housing & Community Development and all our partners as we move forward with much-needed housing for those who have served our nation."

The following awards announced today total $251.8 million to create 707 permanent supportive homes, with 231 units for veterans, in addition to 13 manager units:

• The City and County of San Francisco, 1035 Vets LLC, and Swords to Plowshares will receive just over $39 million to acquire and rehabilitate an existing assisted living facility into 124 permanent supportive homes for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness with behavioral health challenges. The project site is located along a public transit that connects riders from the waterfront to the Market Street transit corridor. Nearby amenities include grocery stores, transportation stops, a medical clinic, and public parks.
• The City and County of San Francisco, in partnership with Five Keys Schools and Programs, will also receive nearly $17.3 million to rehabilitate 835 Turk Street, a 106-unit seven-story building that will include 53 permanent support homes for individuals experiencing homelessness with behavioral health challenges. The extensive rehabilitation will include the creation of six fully accessible units, energy-efficient window replacements, plumbing upgrades, and the installation of a security camera system. The existing ground floor will be reconfigured to serve as a space for supportive services and common areas. There will be an on-site community kitchen, community room, and bicycle parking. A grocery store, transit station, clinic, library, pharmacy, and public park are located within one-half mile of the project.
• The San Diego Housing Commission will receive just over $32.4 million in Homekey+ funding for the Starling Place Project, supporting the acquisition and rehabilitation of a hotel into 80 units of permanent supportive housing, plus two manager units. Forty of the units are reserved for veteran households. The property is adjacent to public transportation, and within one mile of a hospital and pharmacy. The site is two and a half miles from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic, and the VA will collaborate with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services to provide services.
• The City of Visalia, in partnership with Self-Help Enterprises, will receive nearly $12 million from Homekey+ to fund 25 units at the 80-unit Crescent Meadows new-construction, gap-financing project. The units funded through Homekey+ will serve veterans experiencing homelessness with behavioral health challenges, in addition to one manager unit. Twelve of the units will exceed federal and state accessibility requirements for people with mobility disabilities, and eight units will include communications features accessible to people with hearing or vision disabilities. The project was also awarded $5.7 million from HCD’s National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) Program, a total of nearly $2 million from local entities, and tax credits.
• The City of Fresno, with partners Self-Help Enterprises and La Hacienda Mobile, LLC, will receive almost $5 million for a creative project to serve veterans experiencing homelessness. La Hacienda Mobile Estates is an existing manufactured housing community. With this award, 18 newly constructed manufactured homes will be added to vacant lots in the community, with 17 of those new homes designated for veterans and one manager unit. La Hacienda is within a mile of a grocery store, bus station, medical clinic, pharmacy, and a public park.
• The City of Jackson, in partnership with Victory Village, Inc., will receive nearly $5.2 million in Homekey+ funding to acquire and rehabilitate an existing property into 20 units of permanent supportive housing. This is the rural City of Jackson’s first Homekey application. Victory Gardens will reserve 15 homes for veterans with behavioral health challenges who are experiencing homelessness, four units for other individuals experiencing homelessness, and one manager unit. Internet will be provided at no cost to residents, in addition to a BBQ area, outdoor gathering space, playground, and bike parking. The property is within a mile of public transportation, a hospital, public library, public park, grocery store, and a pharmacy.
• The City of Berkeley, in partnership with Insight Housing, will receive almost $4.6 million in Homekey+ funding for MLK House, a project to extensively rehabilitate an existing residential building into 11 permanent supportive homes for veterans experiencing homelessness with behavioral health challenges. MLK House will include an office for resident supportive services and a fully landscaped outdoor space. This project will be located within one-half mile of transportation, a library, grocery stores, a pharmacy, and public parks.
• The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), together with PATH Ventures, will receive $27 million in Homekey+ funding for Path Villas East LA, a new-construction, gap-financing project with 59 homes for people experiencing homelessness or chronic homelessness with behavioral health challenges, along with one manager unit. The project also has been awarded No Place Like Home (NPLH) funding from LACDA, who will also provide project-based vouchers.
• The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), in partnership with Finding Hope, Inc., will receive $9,000,000 in Homekey+ funding for the 630 N Oxford Project to acquire and convert a brand-new multifamily building and two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) into 28 units of permanent supportive housing, in addition to two manager units. The project includes community space and a rooftop deck area. Located in the Wilshire Center-Koreatown neighborhood, the property is within one mile of transportation stops, a medical clinic, a grocery store/supermarket, library, pharmacy, and a public park and community center. PATH will provide supportive services.
• San Joaquin County Healthcare Services—in partnership with Central Valley Low Income Housing Corporation, Stocktonians Taking Action to Neutralize Drugs, and Central Valley Housing Developers, LLC—will receive $15.9 million in Homekey+ funding for the Bridge to Home Project, to acquire and rehabilitate three multifamily buildings into 63 permanent supportive housing units and one manager unit. The county’s main bus hub is within one-quarter mile, as is Community Medical Centers, which provides behavioral health, primary health, and pharmaceutical care. The site is also three-quarters of a mile from the San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services main county campus and less than half a mile from the Health and Human Services Agency.
• The County of Amador, in partnership with Danco Communities and Community Revitalization and Development Corporation, will receive just under $15 million in Homekey+ funding for Valley View Commons project, a new-construction, gap-financing project with 46 units. Of those, 35 units will be permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness or chronic homelessness with behavioral health challenges, with one manager unit. The project was awarded $8.2 million from HCD’s NPLH program and $7.5 million from the HOME program.
• The County of Riverside, in partnership with Abode Communities, will receive just under $10 million from Homekey+ to fund 50 permanent supportive homes at the 116-unit Villa Verde new-construction, gap-financing project. In addition to Homekey+ funding, the project received $11.3 million from HCD’s No Place Like Home Program and a total of nearly $8.2 million from several local entities, in addition to tax credits.
• The City of Oakland, in partnership with East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation will receive $6.5 million from Homekey+ to fund 15 permanent supportive homes at the 60-unit 34th & San Pablo new-construction, gap-financing project. Nine of the units will exceed federal and state accessibility requirements for people with mobility disabilities, and six units have been designed with features accessible to people with hearing or vision disabilities. The project was previously awarded $16.7 million from HCD’s NHTF Program. The City of Oakland committed $7 million to the project, and tax credits were also awarded.
• The City of Fairfield, in partnership with Community Revitalization and Development Corporation and Danco Communities, will receive just over $23.5 million from Homekey+ to acquire and rehabilitate a 100-room hotel, converting it into 50 permanent supportive homes and one manager unit. The project, Vista Ridge, is located in the heart of commercial retail, grocery stores, and other community resources. The project’s outdoor amenities include a pool, dog run, community garden, and a barbeque to foster a sense of community among residents.
• The City of Rohnert Park and Burbank Housing Development Corporation will receive $28,758,453 to acquire and rehabilitate a two-story hotel into 71 units to serve seniors at risk of homelessness. These partners leveraged $2.4 million in philanthropic funding from Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and its Community Health, Bethlehem Foundation, and Community Project Funding programs. The Sonoma County Housing Authority also committed 70 Project-Based Vouchers to support residents. HomeFirst will be the lead service provider.
• The County of Marin and Catholic Charities CYO of the Archdiocese of San Francisco will receive $2.7 million to rehabilitate a two-story building into nine units to serve people at risk of or experiencing homelessness in a shared housing setting. Each unit will include a private en-suite bathroom, while residents will share a balcony, kitchen space, dining area, and community room. Marin County has provided $1.5 million in capital funding, $321,425 in Behavioral Health Services Act operating subsidies, supportive service contracts, and rental subsidies for all nine units.

Approximately $1.033 billion in Proposition 1 bond funds are available through Homekey+ to cities, counties, housing authorities, and tribal entities for projects serving veterans. Another $1.11 billion is available for projects serving all target populations, through a combination of Proposition 1 bond funds and Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program funds. The Homekey+ NOFA allocates funding by region based on a proportionate share of veterans and others experiencing homelessness, and by share of extremely low-income households whose rent is more than half of their income. There are also allocations for rural projects and for projects serving youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Homekey+ applications will continue to be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis. 

Programs that work 

The Homekey+ program is modeled after the Governor’s highly successful Homekey program, which helped local governments transform existing buildings — such as commercial spaces, hotels, motels, adult residential facilities, and manufactured housing — to permanent or interim housing for the target population. Across three rounds of the original Homekey program, HCD awarded more than $3.6 billion to fund 261 projects with 15,962 homes expected to house more than 175,000 Californians over the projects’ lifetimes. 

Getting veterans housing 

The Homekey+ program is just one strategy to ensure that veterans can access supportive housing. In addition, the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention program helps develop new affordable housing specific for veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or have extremely low income. CalVet so far has awarded $580.5 million in permanent loan financing to 99 multifamily affordable, permanent, supportive housing projects through eight competitive rounds of funding. As of October 2025, 75 projects have completed construction, with 5,190 units occupied or in the process of leasing. Once all awarded projects are built, California will have added 6,561 units of affordable, permanent supportive housing for veterans. 

Through legislative action, budget investments and key partnerships, California continues to stand up for our esteemed military members and veterans. Through CalVet, the state provides resources and support to veterans and their families through state and federal benefits they have earned through their selfless military service. Learn more about the many ways that California honors veterans here. 

Results that matter 

Since taking office in 2019, Governor Newsom has created unprecedented policy and structural changes in state government to help California better address its housing and homelessness crises, including additional and unprecedented support for local governments, stronger accountability and enforcement, transformational changes to mental health services and state government, and groundbreaking reforms to create more housing, faster than ever before. 

Turning a national crisis around 

The Newsom administration is making significant progress in reversing decades of inaction on homelessness. This year, many of California’s communities are reporting reductions in homelessness. 

Last year, California also achieved the nation’s largest reduction in veteran homelessness and made meaningful progress in reducing youth homelessness. The state also held the growth of unsheltered homelessness to just 0.45%, compared to a national increase of nearly 7%. States like Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois saw larger increases both in percentage and absolute numbers. In 2024, while homelessness increased nationally by over 18%, California limited its overall increase to just 3% — a lower rate than in 40 other states.  

HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez recently joined Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and Vice Mayor Cindy Allen for the groundbreaking of 300 Alamitos Avenue, a new affordable housing complex for seniors being developed by Mercy Housing. 

300 Alamitos will contain 81 homes for seniors, along with one manager’s unit. Forty homes will be reserved for extremely low-income seniors who have experienced homelessness, and those homes will receive 20-year subsidies covered by Section 8 Project Based Voucher subsidies. The remaining homes will be for seniors earning 50 to 60 percent of Area Median Income. 

HCD contributed over $13 million in National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) program funding to the project. The federally funded NHTF program is designed to increase and preserve the supply of affordable housing, with an emphasis on rental housing for extremely low-income households. 

300 Alamitos will include on-site supportive and resident services, case management, benefits counseling, peer support, and advocacy. Residents will enjoy a community garden, secured bike storage, laundry rooms, and more. Other services include vocational transportation, independent life skills education, financial counseling, adult day care and childcare services, out-patient family therapy, domestic violence support, and meal support services.

Since 1965, the California Department of Housing and Community Development has been at the forefront of advancing housing equity, affordability, and opportunity across the state with six decades of impact – highlighting the people, programs, and partnerships that have shaped California’s housing landscape. From fair housing and planning to groundbreaking initiatives like Homekey and Homekey+, HCD continues to lead with innovation, accountability, and a strong dedication to supporting communities across California. Join us in honoring the past, celebrating the present, and building the future – together.