HomeKey 2.0

Client Background

Since it was established in 1938, The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has grown to become one of the nation’s largest and leading public housing authorities, providing the largest supply of quality affordable housing to residents of the City of Los Angeles. Offering a range of programs specifically for low-income, homeless, disabled, children, and seniors, HACLA is committed to preserving, enhancing, and expanding deeply affordable housing and improving the quality of life for Angelenos with a focus on People, Place, and Pathways to Opportunity.

Project Overview

The HomeKey project, a statewide governmental program, allows local public entities to develop a broad range of housing types such as hotels, motels, and single-family homes and to convert commercial properties and other existing buildings to permanent or interim housing for the target population. In the first round of the HomeKey program, HACLA acquired fifteen properties on its own behalf and on behalf of the City of Los Angeles, comprising twelve hotels or motels, two multifamily properties, and one co-op living property with a total of 750 units. Overall, the first round of the HomeKey program created 5,911 units across the state. For the second round (HomeKey 2.0), HACLA is dedicated to identifying and securing agreements to purchase vacant properties within the City of Los Angeles to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Our Role

JOA Group is currently serving HACLA as the owner-authorized representative for their HomeKey 2.0 project. JOA Group performs risk assessments of each purchase agreement and ensures the purchase agreement requirements are met, including schedule, budget, construction, and turn-over of the project to HACLA. So far, HACLA has successfully purchased over ten properties and is in the process of converting these properties into affordable housing units.

Project Challenges

The majority of these properties were privately built projects and so JOA Group ensures public requirements are met and the quality of the project meets the standards of HACLA and applicable codes prior to turn-over.