Half Moon Bay approves up to $300,000 to keep farmworker households housed while Stone Pine Cove opens

The Half Moon Bay City Council on March 18 unanimously approved a measure authorizing up to $300,000 from the city’s affordable housing fund to support emergency housing for farmworker households displaced by a January 2023 mass shooting.

Council members approved the funding to supplement private philanthropic donations and an expected outside contribution while developers complete Stone Pine Cove, a county-backed homeownership project that will have priority access for displaced farmworkers.

Why it matters: city staff said the emergency support prevents renewed homelessness for households the council, county and nonprofit partners have sheltered since the 2023 incident. Staff said the city has already used a mix of philanthropic grants, county funding and landlord agreements to house 19 households temporarily; the city's contribution is meant to bridge a shortfall that exists until Stone Pine Cove units become available.

City staffer Julissa Acosta summarized the history: after the 2023 incident 19 households were temporarily sheltered—initially in hotels and then in a combination of Airbnb.org placements and local rental units—while county and nonprofit partners worked to secure longer-term options. Acosta told the council the county earlier invested about $1 million and that private donors and foundations provided additional sums; the city also contributed $300,000 from its affordable housing fund last year. She said staff has identified a remaining funding gap of roughly $300,000 to carry these households through July, when Stone Pine Cove is expected to be completed and eligible displaced households can move in.

Acosta said the city is also pursuing additional philanthropic funding and a promising $100,000 application to the Sobrato Foundation but asked the council to act now to prevent displacement while the other funding sources complete their processes. “We’re asking city council to continue providing that little gap in funding or shortage from now until July,” she said.

The council's authorizing motion also directed the city manager to negotiate and execute an amendment to the city's contract with Abode Services, which is managing lease negotiations with landlords and placement for the households.

Vote: Council member Johnson — yes; Council member Nagenghast — yes; Council member Penrose — yes; Vice Mayor Redick — yes; Mayor Brownstone — yes. Motion carried unanimously.

Program and process details: staff said Stone Pine Cove applicants who were displaced by the shooting will be given top priority for units. The Stone Pine Cove application period opened March 17 and closes April 18; eligibility requires applicants be farmworkers who live and work in the county and be first-time homebuyers, with priority tiers for those displaced by the shooting and other high-need farmworkers. Abode Services will continue negotiating month-to-month leases with participating landlords until permanent placements are ready.

Next steps: the council vote authorizes immediate use of the affordable housing fund up to the approved cap and allows the city manager to finalize the Abode Services amendment. Staff committed to returning with a post‑closeout accounting of funds used and any philanthropic funds received.