Oakland's Homekey program is funded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and aims to quickly increase housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. The program began in response to the COVID-19 crisis and has offered three rounds of funding from 2021 to 2023. R2H2 is a City-funded extension of the Homekey model.
Oakland secured Homekey funding for nine projects to provide 448 units of supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in Rounds 1, 2, and 3 in partnership with local developers. Eight projects involve the acquisition and conversion of motels and multifamily buildings, and one is a modular new construction development on a City-owned vacant lot that will break ground in 2024. The R2H2 Program has awarded funds to one additional project to add transitional housing capacity for 20 homeless youth, with fiver additional project under review as of fall 2024.
Homekey project proposals are submitted by the City in partnership with private developers. The application period for the fourth round of Homekey funding, now called Homekey Plus, is closed with three projects under review. Five proposals are being considered for R2H2 funding and the program is accepting applications on a rolling basis. Click below for more information about the competitive Request for Proposals process.