San Mateo County received more funding Wednesday to build its 240-unit navigation center, a key component of its plan to end homelessness this year.
At the center's construction site in Redwood City, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, held a news conference to announce the $500,000 contribution to the homeless shelter.
The money comes from a federal Community Project Funding grant that Speier received, which will help furnish the center.
"It's a way of saying what we know to be true in San Mateo County, that we are compassionate, that we are committed to making sure that everyone who needs a place to call home has it," she said.
The $57 million homeless shelter project will provide 240 temporary housing units and supportive services. Most of the funding is coming from a state grant from the Homekey program, and construction is expected to be complete by the end of this year.
San Mateo County is one of many California localities working to address homelessness, a problem the state has dedicated billions of dollars to address. The navigation center's services will focus on helping clients move into permanent housing.
"In a county where we sometimes focus on wealth, it's important to also focus on the fact that we have homeless people," Speier said.
In 2019, more than 1,500 people were homeless in San Mateo County, with more than half of them living in mobile homes, cars, tents or on the streets. The county conducted its 2022 Homeless Count, a survey of people experiencing homelessness, earlier this year and expects the data to be available by the end of the month.
Redwood City council members, county officials and construction staff echoed Speier's comments about the importance of the homeless shelter project, which has been a partnership among several groups.
The county acquired the 2.5 acres of land from Redwood City in 2021, while funding comes from state, county and local grants.
Redwood City Mayor Giselle Hale said the city is not new to homelessness, an issue that has been a priority for the city in recent years.
Hale said the city is committed to the county's goal of being able to provide all homeless people with access to shelter or housing.
"This is what it looks like when all levels of government are singularly committed to an issue and working together," Hale said.
To speed up construction of the homeless shelter, stacks of units will be built off-site and then lifted into place with a crane, speeding up the project by about a year, according to construction staff.
Currently, the building's foundations and underground utilities have been built.
Construction Manager Erik Slaughter said the support for the project makes it different from others he has worked on.
“Because it’s such a big project, everyone is really behind it,” Slaughter said. “It’s not just about making money. It’s about doing something meaningful, and I think that makes everyone excited to be a part of it.”
With information from Bay City News
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