Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

Homekey requires lead applicants to be cities, counties, cities and counties, and all other state, regional, and local public entities, including councils of government, metropolitan planning organizations, and regional transportation planning agencies designated in Section 29532.1 of the Government Code; or Tribal Entities.

Each of the foregoing entities may apply independently, or each entity may apply jointly with a nonprofit or for-profit corporation as a Co-Applicant.

Geographic Distribution: Because COVID-19 impacts people experiencing or at risk of homelessness throughout California, HCD is working to ensure jurisdictions throughout the state have an equitable opportunity to apply for Homekey funds.

Eligible Uses / Projects

Awarded funds must be used to provide housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.

The list of eligible Homekey uses is as follows:

  1. Acquisition or rehabilitation, or acquisition and rehabilitation, of motels, hotels, hostels, or other sites and assets, including apartments or homes, adult residential facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly, manufactured housing, commercial properties, and other buildings with existing uses that could be converted to permanent or interim housing.
  2. Master leasing of properties for non-congregate housing.
  3. Conversion of units from nonresidential to residential.
  4. New construction of dwelling units.
  5. The purchase of affordability covenants and restrictions for units.
  6. Relocation costs for individuals who are being displaced as a result of the Homekey Project.
  7. Capitalized operating subsidies for units purchased, converted, constructed, or altered with funds awarded under the Homekey Round 2 NOFA for FY 2021-22.

Eligible Housing Types

Under Homekey, local entities will acquire and rehabilitate a variety of housing types, including but not limited to hotels, motels, hostels, single-family homes and multifamily apartments, adult residential facilities, and manufactured housing, and to convert commercial properties and other existing buildings to Permanent or Interim Housing for the Target Population.