Norwalk officials used a State of the City-style presentation to detail a package of housing investments and to mark the opening of a permanent supportive housing project aimed at people exiting homelessness.
City figures reported that the Norwalk Housing Authority administers more than $10,000,000 in federal housing funds for assistance programs including emergency and project‑based vouchers. The city also cited a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development totaling $1,100,000 and more than $2,300,000 from the HOME ARP program to support security deposits, nonprofit housing development and affordable units. A Cal HOME grant was listed at $3,000,000. Officials said the city's HOPE team receives $537,000 in partial funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for outreach and emergency lodging, and the social services department manages roughly $4,200,000 for food, shelter, senior nutrition and childcare programs.
The presentation named the former Motel 6 on Rosecrans as the site converted under California's Project Homekey into Weingart Rose, a permanent supportive housing community with 54 furnished studio units. City materials and remarks said the property offers on‑site mental health care, recovery support, employment assistance and case management designed to help residents rebuild stability.
A resident who moved into the development described feeling safe and having a private space for the first time, saying the environment "feels like home" and relieved the daily stress associated with homelessness. City remarks emphasized partnerships among the Norwalk Housing Authority, Weingart property management, county and state officials in delivering the project.
City officials framed the funding and the housing opening as part of a broader strategy to address homelessness and affordable housing needs, linking grant dollars, voucher programs and local supportive services. No formal policy vote or new ordinance was reported during the presentation.
Next steps noted in the presentation were ongoing coordination with nonprofit partners and continued use of federal and state grant programs to develop and rehabilitate affordable units in the city.