State Allocates Additional $400m for Homekey, Childcare, and Food and Diaper Banks

The Newsom Administration and legislative leaders this week reached an agreement to allocate an additional $400 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to support Homekey, as well as other social supports including childcare, food banks, and diaper banks.

Recall, late last month, the Newsom Administration requested from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) an additional $200 million CRF to support the state’s Homekey initiative to purchase and rehabilitate housing – including hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, and other properties – to convert them into permanent, long-term housing for people experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. According to the Administration, the additional funds were needed to initiate approximately 20 Homekey projects that were waitlisted pending additional funds.

The JLBC approved the Newsom Administration’s request to use an additional $200 million CRF for Homekey. As part of the authorization, however, JLBC Chair Senator Holly Mitchell advocated for additional funding to support other programs that have realized an increased need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislative leaders and the Newsom Administration brokered a deal to provide an additional $110 million CRF for subsidized childcare during the pandemic, $75 million CRF to support emergency food assistance, and $15 million to provide diaper supplies. 

Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and JLBC Chair Senator Mitchell praised the collaborative solution reached between the Newsom Administration and the JLBC to address urgent pandemic-related needs of Californians including shelter, food, supplies, and safety.