Homekey funding is designed to create a range of real estate properties, including hotels, motels and apartments, into permanent or temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness.

In 2019, the Homeless Organization El Camino, or ECHO, was able to obtain funding for the Homekey project in the district of San Luis Obispo.

“ECHO was the first to receive the call, and when we learned about the volume, we decided we needed to bring in a few partners to consider bringing this incredible resource to the community,” said Wendy Lewis, CEO of El Camino. for the homeless.

Including housing and communal services SLO. Together they applied for and received funding from a grant that allowed them to purchase Motel 6 in Pass Robles. The motel was then turned into the first homeless shelter in Paso Robles in 2020.

“It has really had a positive impact on the lives of the people we serve,” Lewis said.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin News announced that the $ 70 million award would go to six new Homekey projects, one of which is in Santa Barbara County.

Housing will receive nearly $ 19 million to turn the Super 8 Hotel in downtown Goleta into a homeless shelter. The motel has 61 rooms and will provide utilities on site.

“These projects really have a very good track record if we’ve been implementing them for a few years now,” Lewis said.

They hope the funding will have the same positive effect in Santa Barbara County.

“It will really increase the opportunity for people to get the services they need and return them to their homes, so it’s a great resource for the community and Santa Barbara,” Lewis said.