The Welcome Inn in Fresno is one of four hotel properties on Parkway Drive purchased and renovated as part of Project HomeKey. Photo by Donald A. Promnitz

Northwest Fresno could soon get a new affordable housing development thanks to a $22 million award to the City of Fresno.

And Visalia will have nearly $14 million for a motel conversion project.

California’s Department of Housing and Community Development granted the funds to Visalia and the City of Fresno and its partner, Valley Teen Ranch, as part of a program to combat homelessness.

Called the Welcome Home project, the complex will provide 96 units of permanent affordable housing in Northwest Fresno near Sierra and Polk avenues.

The city applied jointly with Valley Teen Ranch for the funds in May.

Most of the one-bedroom units will provide permanent housing for youth aging out of the foster care system, providing the support necessary to help them attend school or gain employment.

“I’m grateful to the State of California for funds that will help provide young people stability and connect them with such important services,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer. “This project will prevent future homelessness, which is one of the most important things we can ever do. I’m proud of all we have accomplished so far in our effort to end chronic homelessness, but recognize we still have more to do.”

District 2 Councilmember Mike Karbassi said this project is the first-of-its-kind — a “Hand Up Not Hand Out” housing development to help graduating foster youth in Fresno build a better life as they enter adulthood.

As the operator, Valley Teen Ranch will provide services including outreach, case management, intake and assessment, education and employment assistance, life skills and more.

The funding is part of Homekey Round 3, an effort by the State of California to provide housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This award brings total Homekey funding for the City of Fresno to more than $63.1 million. Prior funding awards were used to rehabilitate the Ambassador Inn, Villa Motel, Parkway Inn, Valley Inn and other sites.

The total funding round is $736 million to build 710 homes in seven Counties. Fresno was one of the nine projects in California to receive Round 3 grants. Visalia and Modesto were also on this list.

Visalia will receive $13.83 million for the Majestic Gardens project, an acquisition and rehabilitation effort to convert an existing motel into 41 housing units.