DATE: January 25, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Homekey 2.0 Application: Adopt a Resolution Approving the City of Hayward's Homekey Projects and Authorizing the City Manager and Assigned Staff to Submit Applications to the State of California Department of Housing Community Development for Homekey Funds for Housing for Persons Experiencing Homelessness
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Council adopts two (2) resolutions to submit Homekey program applications to the State of California Department of Housing Community Development (HCD):
1) Authorizing the City of Hayward’s Joint Application with Bay Area Community Services (BACS), the City of Livermore, the City of Union City, and the City of Piedmont to HCD for Homekey Funding for Project Reclamation Regional Scattered Site Program (Attachment II); and
2) Authorizing the City of Hayward’s Joint Application with Firm Foundation Community Housing to HCD for Homekey Funding for the Tiny Homes Village at South Hayward Parish (Attachment III).
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SUMMARY
On September 9, 2021, HCD announced approximately $1.45 billion in Homekey Round 2 available funds. Homekey Round 2 continues the statewide effort to sustain and rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and who are, thereby, inherently impacted by or at increased risk for medical diseases or conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second round of Homekey funding made available through HCD. The priority application deadline is January 31, 2022.
On July 13, 2021, the Council approved the Let’s House Hayward (LHH) homelessness reduction strategic plan. It creates a strategic framework that better positions the City to address homelessness and seek funding for projects identified and prioritized through this process. The LHH plan outlines several strategies and projects that directly align with the City’s applying for Homekey funding.
On October 20, 2021, the City released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking potential partners and projects for the possible submittal of future funding applications for the State HCD Homekey program. Staff conducted an in-depth assessment of all responses received and identified a suite of preliminary projects for review and discussion by the Homelessness-Housing Task Force (HHTF). On December 16, 2021, staff presented three projects to the HHTF. Members of the HHTF unanimously recommended these projects be presented to the full Council for approval and inclusion in the City of Hayward’s Homekey Grant Application, due by January 31, 2022.
Since the December 16th HHTF meeting, staff have continued to meet with development partners and the State to discuss project feasibility and one of the three previously recommended projects was withdrawn to allow more time to identify sufficient operating funds for a future round of Homekey. As a result, staff recommends the following two remaining projects for Council approval and inclusion in the City of Hayward’s Homekey Grant Application:
1. Project Reclamation Regional Scattered Site Program, in partnership with BACS and the Cities of Livermore and Union City; and
2. Tiny Homes Village at South Hayward Parish, in partnership with Firm Foundation Community Housing (FFCH).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II Resolution for Project Reclamation
Attachment III Resolution for Tiny Homes Project
Attachment IV HHTF Feedback