This rehabilitation project will turn the former Travelodge at 3876 N. Blackstone Ave. into 33 permanent housing units serving people experiencing homelessness and chronic homelessness, plus one manager unit. Google Street View image

Mayor Jerry Dyer announced that the City of Fresno has been awarded additional funding from Homekey Round 3 that will be used to convert another motel into permanent housing.

Homekey is a state program launched during the pandemic to empower cities to partner with organizations to rapidly develop housing, including converting hotels and motels.

The City of Fresno, in partnership with the Fresno Rescue Mission and Fresno Mission Communities, will receive $9.59 million in funding for City Studios. This rehabilitation project will turn the former Travelodge at 3876 N. Blackstone Ave. into 33 permanent housing units serving people experiencing homelessness and chronic homelessness, plus one manager unit.

Ten units are reserved for homeless youth.

“We are committed to ending chronic homelessness in Fresno and to providing support for people who need it, and funds like this help us tremendously in that effort,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer. “We have seen an exceptional amount of support from our partners at the state level, and I’m grateful for their continued assistance as we work to help people out of a life of chronic homelessness.”

The award was announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday.

To date, the City of Fresno has received $137.8 million in Homekey funding from the State of California. More than 3,000 people have been housed in motels purchased by the City since the Dyer administration took office, according to a news release.

From Round 3, a total of $45 million is coming to Fresno and Visalia so far to build or rehabilitate 172 housing units for people experiencing homelessness.

The biggest award in the Central Valley announced last year was $21.9 million for construction of 96 units as part of the “Welcome Home” development by Valley Teen Ranch.

Located at 6507 N. Polk Ave., Welcome Home will provide affordable housing for at-risk youth, including 60 units reserved for homeless youth.

The City of Visalia, RHCB Development LP and Visalia Homekey LP were funded $13.8 million for 42 units as part of the Majestic Gardens hotel rehabilitation.