Project Roomkey

[2] The project was expected to end in late 2020, as it was initially intended to help homeless people socially distance during the peak of the pandemic.

National publications such as Newsweek have noted that the program is reserved for homeless individuals aged 65 or older or who have an underlying medical condition.

For example, Project Roomkey provided the participants in one motel, soon to close, with a list of 148 phone numbers of landlords said to offer affordable housing options.

Many of the landlords had waiting lists far too long to be practical for residents facing urgent eviction from the temporary accommodations provided through Project Roomkey.

[8][9][10][11] After roughly three months of existence, the state government saw an opportunity to transition Project Roomkey into a more permanent measure.

[citation needed] These grants would help local governments acquire motels, hotels, along with other large properties to create permanent housing for homeless individuals.

Clifton Hall, a former dormitory at California College of the Arts , was bought by the city of Oakland using Homekey funds and converted to public housing for people experiencing homelessness. [ 12 ] [ 13 ]