Governor Newsom announces newly converted motel, Project Roomkey to protect homeless

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION)  https://livestream.com/accounts/25723746/events/8522569/videos/203951597 Governor Gavin Newsom gave an update Friday about California's efforts to protect homeless Californians and the public from the coronavirus pandemic.

While giving the update, Newsom announced new numbers about coronavirus cases in California.

• 10,701 have confirmed cases
• 2,188 people with confirmed cases in hospitals
• 901 people with confirmed cases in the ICU

He also announced that California has become the first state to get FEMA approval to provide safe isolation capacity for tens of thousands of homeless Californians to protect them from coronavirus.

The effort, called Project Roomkey, has a goal of getting up to 15,000 rooms, and county partners have moved 869 people off the street, out of shelters and into isolation.

The Governor said the announcement means that state and local governments will get up to 75% of cost-share reimbursement from FEMA for hotel and motel room.