County to apply with partners for Homekey Plus funding for Sanger modular supportive housing; No Place Like Home award transferred to increase units to 88

Fresno County on May 20 authorized staff to submit a joint grant application under the state Homekey Plus program for a planned modular permanent supportive housing project in Sanger and approved an updated memorandum of understanding naming co‑applicants and development partners.

What the board approved: The county adopted a revised resolution and MOU to add NewUp Holdings (referred to in the meeting as Upholdings/Upholdings) as a development partner and co‑applicant with RH Community Builders for the Sanger modular project. The updated MOU requires the development partners to pursue all available long‑term subsidy sources, including project‑based vouchers, to bolster financial viability.

Funding and scope update: Meeting staff reported a late approval from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to transfer the county’s existing No Place Like Home award from a different project to the Sanger modular project. With that transfer, the total unit count would rise from 51 units to 88 units (including one on‑site manager unit), the total development budget was described as approximately $37,900,000 and the average per‑unit development cost as about $431,000.

Process and schedule: Staff said the county will return to the board in June to authorize the formal transfer of the No Place Like Home award and continue project development steps. The board voted to approve the revised MOU and resolution to pursue the Homekey Plus application at the May 20 meeting.

Why it matters: If funded and constructed, the project would add permanent supportive housing units intended for people experiencing homelessness and would consolidate several state and local funding sources. The county emphasized partners must secure ongoing rental subsidy and other financing to maintain long‑term affordability and operations.