California grants add senior and at-risk adult housing

California Gov. Gavin Newsom this week announced $53 million in new housing grants intended to create more residential care options for older adults and adults with disabilities, including people at risk of experiencing homelessness.

“California is making significant housing investments to support some of our most vulnerable residents – low-income older adults and adults with disabilities – to live with safety and dignity in their communities,” Newsom said in a written statement addressing the new programs.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will administer the grants that will fund 14 projects through 12 organizations intended to create more residential options for those older adults ad adults with disabilities including people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The investment is expected to create 402 new beds or units.

This new investment follows $47 million that was awarded to five organizations this past August to address older adult housing issues.

“We are supporting local communities to acquire, renovate and upgrade properties throughout the state,” Newsom continued, “providing, not just a place to call home, but helping individuals stay out of homelessness. In California, we’re doubling down on our efforts to deliver more housing and services in record time and at a fraction of the price.”

The over-60 population is projected to diversify and grow faster than any other age group in the state, according to the California Master Plan for Aging with those 10.8 million Californians making up one-quarter of the state’s population. The state’s over-65 population is projected to reach 8.6 million by 2030 with an 88 percent increase in older adults with self-care limitations.

While state money for older Californians’ housing options helps no matter what, it’s the tip of the iceberg when it comes to future housing needs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that nationwide, housing was the greatest expense in dollar terms ($16,219) and as a share of annual expenditures (32.9 percent) for older households. Spending was greatest ($18,006) for the 55–64 age group, decreasing to $15,838 for the 65–74 group before declining to $13,375 for the 75-and-older group.

“Aging independently in one’s own home with economic security has become particularly challenging for too many older adults who for years have endured discrimination, inequities and health disparities,” said Susan DeMarois, director of the California Department of Aging.

Grants were awarded through the new Community Care Expansion (CCE) Program, which, through Governor’s Newsom’s budget, will provide a total of $570 million for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and construction of adult and senior care facilities serving Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) applicants and recipients, as well as other community-based residential care settings, such as permanent supportive housing and recuperative care sites.

“These significant and timely investments will provide new housing options that will support older adults and adults with disabilities in California,” CDSS Director Kim Johnson said. “We must continue to combat our homelessness crisis. Through this effort, we are breathing new life into old facilities and acquiring and building new facilities that will support some of our most vulnerable residents, including people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.”

The Governor’s office said multibillion-dollar homeless housing investments will provide more than 55,000 new housing units and treatment slots in the coming years. Building on last year’s historic $12 billion investment to help get the most vulnerable people off the streets, the state budget this year invests an additional $3 billion in behavioral health housing, homeless emergency aid, and encampment rehousing strategies, creating a package totaling over $15 billion in funding.

Funding is being issued in the following amounts to these 14 additional projects:

• Integrated Elder Care, Inc. has been awarded $11,589,180 to rehabilitate an existing licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly in Redlands (San Bernardino County) that will prioritize SSI/SSP and CAPI applicants and recipients who are over the age of 50. The project will add 52 beds.
• Senior Coast Living has been awarded $9,079,550 to acquire and convert an existing motel in National City (San Diego County) into a licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly that will serve SSI/SSP and CAPI applicants and recipients. The project will add 68 beds.
• The JWCH Institute, Inc. has been awarded $8,287,727 to acquire and renovate a licensed Adult Residential Facility in Azusa (Los Angeles County). The project will add 96 beds.
• East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation has been awarded $4,986,000 to construct a new building with Permanent Supportive Housing units for formerly homeless individuals and households in Oakland (Alameda County). The project will add 30 units.
• Native Directions and Home CA have been issued awards for two projects, one in Shingle Springs (El Dorado County) for $4,548,890 and the second in Rescue (El Dorado County) for $4,597,895. These funds will be used to construct two separate licensed Adult Residential Facilities to serve Tribal members in the San Joaquin Delta area with long-term housing and linkages to supportive services. Each project will add 30 beds.
• Self Help Enterprises has been awarded $4,051,471 to construct prefabricated mobile homes for residents experiencing homelessness in Goshen (Tulare County). The project will add 36 units.
• Progressive Care, Inc. has been awarded $2,054,597 to rehabilitate an existing licensed Adult Residential Facility in Whittier (Los Angeles County) to expand capacity for SSI/SSP and CAPI applicants and recipients. The project will add 28 beds.
• The Berkeley Food and Housing Project has been awarded $1,180,325 to convert an existing shelter in Berkeley (Alameda County) into a licensed Adult Residential Facility. The project will add 15 beds.
• The County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness has been awarded $1,001,338 to renovate an existing licensed Adult Residential Facility in Santa Barbara that will prioritize individuals eligible for SSI/SSP and CAPI who are at risk of homelessness. The project will add 9 beds.
• Xencare II, Inc. has been issued awards for two projects in Fresno. One project has been awarded $661,106 to convert an existing residential structure into a licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. The other project has been awarded $620,013 to construct a licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. Each project will add 3 beds.
• PathPoint has been awarded $191,480 to renovate and expand an existing licensed Adult Residential Facility in Santa Barbara. The project will add 2 beds.
• Housing Consortium of the East Bay has been awarded $157,465 in predevelopment funds to develop schematic designs for one-bedroom Permanent Supportive Housing units for medically vulnerable seniors in Oakland (Alameda County).