Vacaville council rejects Homekey Plus plan to convert Quality Inn into up to 85 supportive units

The Vacaville City Council voted 4–3 on April 8 to reject three proposals to use state Homekey Plus funding to convert the Quality Inn, 1050 Orange Drive, into affordable or supportive housing.

What passed: Councilmember Greg Ritchie moved to deny all three options. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Stockton — yes; Ritchie — yes; Silva — no; Freeman — yes; Wylie — no; Chapman — no; Mayor John Carley — yes. The vote leaves the property in private hands; no acquisition, funding application or development agreement was authorized.

Background and proposals

Staff presented three options for the motel conversion after a development negotiation changed hands during prior outreach:

- Option 1: Full Homekey permanent supportive housing — 85 studio units for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, with on-site management and an estimated staffing model of about 8.5 full-time positions. Capital funding would combine state Homekey awards, a city ARPA match and philanthropic sources for a projected capital need of roughly $25.5 million; operating subsidies would be a mix of state Homekey operating funds and project-based vouchers.

- Option 2: Mixed/phased model — a Homekey-funded phase of 25–30 permanent supportive units (staffed at a reduced level), with the remaining 55–60 units developed as conventional affordable housing using low‑income housing tax credits and project-based vouchers. Staff recommended opportunity for a local service provider (Opportunity House/Vacaville Solano Services Corporation) to provide supportive services for the PSH portion.

- Option 3: Standard affordable housing — no Homekey subsidy or supportive units; the entire property would be rehabilitated as conventional affordable housing (estimated $40 million capital) with project-based vouchers for operating support.

Council debate and public concerns

The Council heard extensive public comment for and against Homekey conversions. Supporters of the conversion argued the city has people currently in navigation and temporary housing who could transition into stable units; Opportunity House staff estimated about 20 local clients could move directly to PSH. Opponents — including neighbors, business-owners and multiple council members — raised concerns about scale, site context (a freeway-corridor motel location), the challenge of policing guest behavior, and the risk that units could attract people from outside the city and change neighborhood dynamics.

Several council members said they favored smaller, locally designed transitional programs that prioritize community-based service providers over a large, state-funded conversion. Council members urged staff to work with local partners; Councilmember Ritchie explicitly proposed denying the three Homekey options and asked staff to pursue alternative transitional solutions in coordination with local providers.

Formal action and vote

- Motion: Deny all three Homekey options for the Quality Inn project at 1050 Orange Drive. - Mover: Councilmember Greg Ritchie - Second: (recorded in proceedings as a second) - Vote: Yes — Councilmembers Stockton, Ritchie, Freeman and Mayor John Carley; No — Councilmembers Silva, Wylie and Vice Mayor Chapman. - Outcome: Motion approved (4–3); staff was not authorized to submit a Homekey application or execute an acquisition for the site under the three proposed options.

Follow-up and next steps

After the vote staff and several council members discussed alternatives. Multiple council members asked staff to explore smaller transitional‑housing approaches and to coordinate with Opportunity House, Vacaville Solano Services Corporation and other local providers to identify locally controlled solutions. Staff also said it will report back to the council with options for how ARPA or other local resources might be used for locally shaped transitional programs.

Ending

The council’s rejection of the three Homekey scenarios preserves local discretion for the next steps. City staff and council members said they will continue discussions with Opportunity House and other local partners to design smaller transitional programs that the council said would be more appropriate for Vacaville’s circumstances.