SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 24, 2023) – Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), in partnership with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Wells Fargo, is bringing together 200 local and state stakeholders on April 28 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento for “A Common Cause: Unlocking Homekey,” a daylong convening on the impact of California’s unprecedented $3.75 billion initiative to address the statewide homelessness crisis.
Coming on the heels of HCD’s announcement of $736 million in available grant funding through Homekey’s Round 3 Notice of Funding Availability, the conference, which is sponsored by Wells Fargo, will be an opportunity for local government and housing department staff, tribal leaders, Homekey awardees, and housing and service providers to share crucial information, best practices, and spark strategic thinking on applying for and implementing the final tranche of Homekey funds.
“Homelessness is one of the state’s defining challenges, and Wells Fargo is committed to seeking and, importantly, helping evolve solutions with impact,” said Amy Anderson, Wells Fargo’s Senior Vice President, Lead Social Impact Specialist. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Enterprise and the State to help communities to access and effectively deploy Homekey dollars. This convening is a fantastic opportunity for entities to learn from each other about best practices for using this unprecedented funding to create housing and end a person’s experience of homelessness.”
Discussion topics will include Housing First, property operations, specific considerations for rural and tribal communities, youth homelessness, and more. Additionally, researchers from UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation will present findings from their analysis of the first round of Homekey.
“Homekey is a meaningful step toward ensuring every person in California can access an affordable and stable home, and it is essential to continue building on its progress to address the homelessness crisis,” said Heather Hood, Enterprise VP and Northern California market leader. “This convening is an essential waypoint as we align on our goals statewide, assemble necessary resources, and work through challenges together so we can keep moving forward.”
The day before the conference, participants will have the opportunity to see Homekey in action during a site tour of Vista Nueva, a former hotel that now provides permanent supportive housing to families as well as youth who are coming from or at risk of homelessness. Homekey funding was a critical piece of the $40 million rehabilitation project, which was completed by Jamboree Housing Corporation in 2022.
"Through the first two rounds of Homekey, HCD will create nearly 13,000 homes for some of California’s most vulnerable residents,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “As we prepare to award the third round of Homekey funding, it is extremely important to bring all parties together to build on lessons learned to ensure an efficient, equitable process that maximizes the public benefit of these critical funds."
Since 2020, Enterprise has supported community organizations and municipalities participating in Homekey with technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, pass-through grants from philanthropic funders, and more to maximize the effectiveness of the program.
Media Contact:
Jordan Miller
212.784.5703
jmiller@groupgordon.com