Santa Clara County Awarded State Funding To House The Homeless

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Santa Clara County announced Tuesday it has secured $29.2 million in state funding for a proposal to convert a hotel in Milpitas into permanent apartments for people experiencing homelessness.

The site, which is currently an Extended Stay America, would be the first development in Milpitas fully dedicated for permanent supportive housing. According to the proposal, the building, located at 1000 Hillview Court in Milpitas, would be transformed into Hillview Court and provide 132 apartments for formerly homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless – some of whom lost homes as a result of the pandemic.

“This funding comes at a time when the need for affordable housing is greater than ever, as the current pandemic exacerbates the challenges being faced by our most vulnerable residents,” said Cindy Chavez, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. “Service-enriched permanent housing is a proven solution.”

According to county officials, the proposal reflects a unique collaboration between various partners committed to ending homelessness in Santa Clara County. The County’s Office of Supportive Housing worked with the developer Jamboree Housing Corporation and Destination: Home to submit the application to the state, while the City of Milpitas staff provided support and facilitation.

“The speed at which we pulled together with our partners demonstrates the collective will of our community to address the housing crisis,” said Consuelo Hernandez, Director of the County’s Office of Supportive Housing. “No one entity can solve homelessness alone. It truly takes a strong, united effort, and this is a perfect example of that.”

The $29.2 million comes from the State’s Homekey program, California’s innovative $600 million program to purchase and rehabilitate housing (including hotels, motels, and vacant apartment buildings) and convert them into permanent, long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

County officials said onsite services would provide the health and stability necessary for formerly homeless residents to successfully live independently.

“Hillview Court will be an asset to the Milpitas community and Jamboree is excited to bring its years of experience working with homeless populations and providing quality affordable housing to this development,” said Laura Archuleta, Jamboree President and CEO. “The Homekey funding offers us the ability to convert the hotel quickly and efficiently to address the immediate needs of the community.”

Neighborhood meetings will be conducted in the coming weeks to discuss the project with the community.

"Housing is the true solution to homelessness, and this unique project will allow us to immediately bring people inside into permanent housing for our most vulnerable neighbors," said Jennifer Loving, CEO of Destination: Home. "We are extremely grateful to our partners at the County of Santa Clara, City of Milpitas and Jamboree for moving so quickly to capitalize on this unique opportunity, and to the State of California for investing in this important project. These are exactly the type of partnerships that will be critical to ending homelessness in our community."