San Mateo Homeless Plan Gets $13.5M In State Funds

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo County will receive $13.5 million in state funds to buy the Stone Villa Inn in San Mateo and turn it into a temporary shelter for homeless residents, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday.

The 44-room hotel with seven ADA-compliant rooms would provide "immediate, temporary shelter, services and skill-building to help residents exit to permanent housing," according to a news release.

Another state contribution provides the county with $55 million in state funds to construct and operate a homeless shelter in Redwood City.

The Navigation Center, to be located east of Highway 101 off Maple Street, will provide short-term housing and other services for people experiencing homelessness and replace the Maple Street Shelter.

The center, which will have 240 units, is expected to open in late 2022.

“This is a reflection of the state’s and County’s values that if you make the commitment, you can send people who are homeless on a path toward stable lives if you provide them with intensive support services such as job training, counseling and more,” said David Canepa, President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

The two grants — $68 million in total — combine to make up the largest housing grant in county history. A one-day count in 2019 found that more than 1,500 San Mateo County residents were experiencing homelessness.

“This will change the face of homelessness in our county,” County Manager Mike Callagy said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to help our entire community by ensuring that every homeless individual who wants shelter can find it and are treated with dignity and respect. These are real people with real issues and these funds will change lives.”