The California Department of Housing and Community Development (CalHCD) released a NOFA for $600 million in Homekey funds. Building on the success of Project Roomkey, Homekey is the next phase in the state’s response to protecting Californians experiencing homelessness who are at high risk for serious illness and are impacted by COVID-19.

The grant funding will be available to local public entities, including cities, counties or other local public entities, such as housing authorities or federally recognized tribal governments within California to purchase and rehabilitate housing, as well as hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings and other buildings and convert them into interim or permanent, long-term housing.

$550 million of the funding comes through federal Coronavirus Aid Relief Funds. As such those funds must be expended and project escrow must close by December 30, 2020. Priority Applications are due by August 13, 2020 and all applications are due by September 29, 2020. CalHCD will hold a webinar