Jamboree updates council on Project Homekey conversions, says 152 units now permanent supportive housing

Jamboree Housing representatives told the Stanton City Council on Sept. 23 that work converting Project Homekey and Project Roomkey sites in Stanton has produced 152 permanent supportive housing units and helped about 225 people move from homelessness to permanent housing during the program period.

The presentation, given during special presentations, outlined the conversion path: initial stabilization and small rehabilitations allowed buildings under Project Homekey to remain habitable while Jamboree pursued tax-credit allocations to convert sites to permanent supportive housing. A Jamboree representative said the organization had expected the conversion to take three to five years, but that federal and state funding advanced the timeline and allowed ground‑breaking in 2022.

Jamboree emphasized on‑site services and a multiagency approach. The presenter said staff provide voluntary programming and case management; about 80 residents were “actively engaged in programming,” 32 had been reintegrated through behavioral-health supports, 32 were enrolled in harm‑reduction services and 34 were in workforce‑development programs. A Claravista property participating in a CalOptima enhanced care management pilot enrolled 35 of its 60 units and logged 228.5 hours of enhanced care management, the presenter said.

Council members asked about per‑resident operating cost, program rules and security. The Jamboree representative said operating budgets are driven by unit maximums set by the Orange County Housing Authority and that the organization would follow up with detailed cost figures after consulting its asset‑management team. On conduct and safety, the presenter said residents sign conventional leases, can have guests but are limited to 14 overnight visits per year, and that lease violations and escalation protocols are used when necessary. After hours, properties use cameras and a security guard at Claravista; remote “drop down” monitoring can alert staff and emergency services if people gather in prohibited areas.

The presenter described a three‑to‑five‑year stabilization period for supportive housing, during which case-management engagement, community building and voluntary services tend to reduce emergency‑service usage. Jamboree said the organization partners with Second Harvest Food Bank, the Orange County Health Care Agency, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver services and food access on site.

Councilmembers asked for additional Stanton‑specific figures; the presenter said staff would pull and provide the count of Stanton residents served and per‑resident cost information on request. City staff offered to follow up with Jamboree on outstanding data requests.

Context: Project Homekey was a federal‑state program that allowed jurisdictions to convert temporary pandemic‑era shelter into permanent housing; the city’s role in these sites included partnering on relocations and approvals, the presentation said. Jamboree framed the work as part of a network of county and nonprofit partners providing supportive services rather than a standalone shelter operation.

The presentation concluded without a council vote; councilmembers thanked Jamboree and asked staff to provide the requested cost and Stanton‑specific counts at a later date.