Project Homekey is a statewide effort to sustain and rapidly expand housing for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, providing funding opportunities to improve the housing supply in cities like Santa Clara.

Those awarded funds are directed toward private or public partnerships, but generally to private housing developers or providers for the unhoused, and can support a range of projects, including converting non-residential spaces into housing or rehabilitating existing residential buildings.

Benton/Lawrence Project: Santa Clara Family Community

The Santa Clara Family Community is a proposed Homekey project for a new emergency interim housing site for families with children. The 1.3 acre County-owned site is to be developed on the southeast corner of Lawrence Expressway and Benton Street. It will house about 90 people and will include on-site support services, a shared cooking area, laundry facilities, a playground and daycare, health and wellness spaces, and a dog park.

This project is being co-developed by LifeMoves and the County of Santa Clara in partnership with the City of Santa Clara. These are some key dates related to funding for this project:

• July 3, 2025: The California Department of Housing and Community Development awarded this project $25.7 million through Round 3 of the Homekey Program.
• May 2, 2023: The Santa Clara City Council committed up to $7 million to this project for a new interim housing development for unhoused families with minor children.

Visit the Santa Clara County’s official page for full project information.

What's Next?

With state funding in place, the City and County must agree to memorialize the terms of the City’s funding. A public hearing will be held to seek City Council approval of this agreement.

Public Hearing Details:
Date: July 14, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. or later depending on the agenda
Location: Santa Clara City Hall, Council Chambers - 1500 Warburton Ave.

If you have questions about this project or the public hearing, please contact the City’s Housing & Community Services Division at 408-615-2490 or email communityservice@santaclaraca.gov.