Salinas receives grant as part of Homekey state program
SALINAS, Calif. -- The city of Salinas received a pair of grants from the state to purchase two former hotels with a price tag of $13.2 million and $16.3 million.
Salinas Inn will be converted into 42 permanent housing units and Sanborn Inn will be turned into 57 transitional housing units for homeless citizens.
This comes as a third installment from the Homekey project plan that was first announced by Gov. Newsom in 2020. The project is meant to provide a homeless individual with a stable living environment in an area where the city can give them easy access to facilities and services that they need. Some of these services include mental health, medical care, and job training.
When a hotel or motel is proposed to become a Homekey project location, it goes under specific grading to meet eligibility requirements.
"In the case of these two properties, not only are there accessibility and their close proximity to transportation but the nature of the units that can be converted into living quarters for folks that are homeless," said Steve McShane, District three Salinas council member.
Every homeless person who would like the opportunity to live at one of these two locations must receive a referral. A rating system is being issued to help determine who can live in the new housing facilities. Points will be given depending on an individual's circumstance and those with the highest number of points get a their referrals first. This ensures the prioritization of those most in need.
“We'll be using the continuum of cares rated entry system to decide and to evaluate people to have those housing opportunities," said Rod Powell, Planning Manager for the Salinas Housing Division. "It’s the most fair and effective way to do that."
These projects are less than half a mile apart from each other and are capable of housing more than 200 homeless individuals.
“Based on a census count of 1,700 we’re getting there. We have more room to go and not all solutions are the right fit for every homeless individual but we’re certainly making head way," said council member McShane.
Each room at these properties will be converted into studios. They are expected to be fully operational within a six to eight month period.
"Housing is really important. It's probably the number one thing for people. In terms of livability, sanity, and stability. We really do need to have that be a prioritization of funding," said Powell.
These projects were applied for three weeks apart with hundreds of other applications that were coming from all over the state. Council member McShane said this was a huge moment for the City of Salinas to make a sizable difference for the homeless community.
