Orange County, California – Today, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley announced the County of Orange’s award of $10,675,000 in new funding under Round Two of California’s Project Homekey program to acquire and convert the Motel 6 on Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa into 88 units of affordable housing. Of these 88 units, 40 Homekey units will serve individuals impacted by COVID-19 who are experiencing homelessness. Of those 40 Homekey units, 10 shall be set aside for individuals who meet the MHSA eligibility criteria and are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, 30 units will be dedicated for Veterans experiencing homelessness, and the 48 remaining hotel units will be used as affordable housing for seniors that are ages 62 or older.
“I am thrilled my City is taking advantage of Project Homekey to convert this Motel into supportive housing,”said Supervisor Katrina Foley. “For years we made attempts to address the blight and crime caused by many of these seedy Motels. When the residents of Costa Mesa elected me to the Board of Supervisors, last year, I got to work right away to address what we could do to secure funding from the State of California. This is just one of several conversions that will be announced in the future.”
“I’m grateful for the engagement of Supervisor Foley and her county team who worked with our city staff to get this done”, said Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens. “These 88 units of permanent supportive housing are a game changer in our ongoing efforts to eliminate homelessness in Costa Mesa.”
“We are grateful for the County’s support while we work with motel operators in Costa Mesa,” said Costa Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Marr. “Providing a full range of housing opportunities is a priority for our City; Project Homekey will allow us to serve Costa Mesans in great need of housing.”
Costa Mesa’s Motel 6 award completes the final of all three projects for Orange County’s Round Two of the State’s Homekey program. The first two included HB Oasis and Riviera to create a total of 122 new affordable homes for Orange County residents experiencing homelessness due to the impact of COVID-19. Before this, The Tahiti Motel and Stanton Inn and Suites projects created 132 units awarded in Round One of the Homekey program. During Round 1, the County of Orange and Jamboree Housing Corporation received approximately $23.1 million in funding, as co-applicants in partnership with the City of Stanton for the Tahiti Motel and Stanton Inn and Suites applications.
“This new funding builds upon the momentum that we began in 2021, when I worked with the cities in my District to initiate ‘Homekey in a Box.’ We brought together our County staff and cities to streamline the application process for these projects.” said Supervisor Foley, “The timing is perfect to help house more Veterans and families, while simultaneously converting motels that are often crime magnets into supportive housing.”
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley joined the Board of Supervisors in 2021. She serves on the Airport Ad Hoc Committee & Fly Friendly working group, the Sober Living Home Ad Hoc Committee, and boards of the Orange County Transportation Authority, CalOptima, Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, Law Library, Newport Bay & South Orange County Watershed Management Area Executive Committees & the Santa Ana River Flood Control Protection.
