California governor gavin newsom and telecare regional operations director michelle dabbs

Telecare’s Home First North and Regional Operations Director Michelle Dabbs were honored to participate in a recent press conference held by California Governor Gavin Newsom to recognize the efforts and progress of Project Homekey, an innovative program to increase housing for those struggling with homelessness. Home First North, funded in part by Project Homekey, operates one of the housing sites (Iluma) at a former motel in Stanton, CA.

Project Homekey is one way the state is trying to confront the homelessness crisis by funding conversions that come with a far lower price tag than building new housing. The money from the state is typically combined with other funding sources to buy the buildings and renovate them for people to live in.

“This is unprecedented in California’s history,” Newsom said in the OC Register. “We’ve never invested at this scale, at this level. We’ve never invested with the kind of intentionality to address the crisis that persists, not just here in Orange County, but throughout the state of California, and increasingly all across the United States.”

Michelle Dabbs attended the press conference to represent Telecare. She says, “The goal of the visit was to really highlight the progress being made with homelessness and the good work that Telecare and the Home First programs are doing to support the efforts in the community.”

Also in attendance to support Governor Newsom were Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, the Mayor of Costa Mesa, and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris. Additionally, Jamboree Housing Corporation Regional Director of Community Impact, Richard Owens, and Kyle Paine, President of Community Development Partners were present.

We’d like to acknowledge Home First administrators Michelle Munroe and Heather Avila and their staff for the great work they are doing as onsite providers to many units throughout Orange County.

To learn more about Project Homekey and this event, please click here for the Orange County Register story, or watch the press conference, below.

Referenced: Michael Slaten, Orange County Register, 1/18/24, “Newsom: Housing conversion program, Homekey, has been a success, needs more funding.”