In a call captured on video and posted to social media, California Gov. Gavin Newsom informed San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy that the County will recieve $68.8 million in Homekey grants to support people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
The County will receive $55.3 million to construct and operate a state-of-the art homeless navigation center with 240 units east of Highway 101 off of Maple Street in Redwood City. The center, set to open in late 2022, “will provide shelter, intensive case management and other supportive services,” the County said. Another $13.5 million will purchase, rehabilitate and operate the Stone Villa Inn in San Mateo, a 44-room hotel, “which will provide immediate, temporary shelter, services and skill-building to help residents exit to permanent housing,” according to the County.
“This is historic for our County and it will help those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless,” Supervisor Warren Slocum said. “Thank you to our tremendous staff across departments who worked together to be the first in the state to apply for this funding. Your efforts worked!”
California is creating 433 new homes for people exiting homelessness! Today we announced $105 million in Homekey grants.@sanmateoco is one of the recipients and their county manager, Mike, knows this money will help make a major impact on homelessness there. pic.twitter.com/pQbKJN1zWF
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) December 15, 2021
In their call, Callagy told Gov. Newsom the state grants “will change the face of homelessness in this county.”
Callagy expressed similar optimism in September, when the County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a land swap agreement with the City of Redwood City to enable construction of a 240-bed, state-of-the-art shelter at at 1469 Maple St. The facility, according to Callagy, with deploy services “that are proven to break the cycle of homelessness,” prodiving the stability individuals need to transition to more permanent housing. The center will replace the aging Maple Street Shelter.
As part of the land swap, Redwood City agreed to take over County-owned parcel at 1580 Maple St., enabling the start of construction on the Blomquist Extension, a new roadway spanning east of Highway 101 from Seaport Blvd. to Bair Island Road. The extension aims to improve traffic circulation and safety to areas east of 101 and create additional access for residents to enjoy the waterfront. The land-swap deal also sets aside 10 acres along the nearby waterfront as future park space, waterfront recreation and open space.
