State backs Hayward plan to buy, operate single-family homes as permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness

The California Department of Housing and Community Development announced last week the award of $9.6 million for the purchase and refurbishing of single-family homes in Hayward to be operated as permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness.

The funds were awarded to the cities of Hayward and Union City and non-profit Bay Area Community Services (BACS) through Homekey, a COVID-19 era initiative to facilitate the development of a broad range of housing types and conversion of commercial properties and other buildings into permanent and interim housing for people who are or who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Specifically, the funding award, announced on Nov. 7, is for a scattered site project developed by BACS in partnership with the City of Hayward as part of its Let’s House Hayward Strategic Plan.  Along with BACS and Union City, Hayward will acquire and rehabilitate four to five single-family homes, which BACS will then operate as deeply subsidized permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness.

The City anticipates providing permanent homes for approximately 30 to 35 individuals once all funds are expended.

To learn more, check out this article by journalist Sonia Waraich in the East Bay Echo, a local news and information site launched by Ms. Waraich in January 2023 to cover the Tri-City and Eden areas of central Alameda County.