PRESS RELEASE.
At its meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of a coastside hotel, for the purposes of providing temporary shelter that supports homeless residents while they seek long-term housing.
The Board allocated up to $8,035,000 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to purchase the Coastside Inn, 230 S. Cabrillo Highway (Highway 1) in Half Moon Bay. The County’s 2019 one-day count of unsheltered individuals found 230 homeless people on the coast from Pacifica south, which is an area that lacks a permanent homeless shelter.
The County expects to prioritize local area populations who are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 for participation in the program, as feasible. Additionally, the County will work with an operator (to be selected) to provide an array of social services to residents.
The property includes 52 rooms within a half mile of grocery stores, pharmacies, and a farmer’s market. San Mateo County Health also has a medical, dental and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services clinic less than 1,000 feet away from the hotel.
The property could potentially be converted to permanent affordable housing in the future depending on the County’s shelter and housing needs. Read the Board of Supervisors full staff report.
The City of Half Moon Bay sent a letter of support for the project to the Board of Supervisors on December 4. That letter also requested certain commitments from the county, including the development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City and the County that establishes roles, responsibilities, and the assurances that the City feels are necessary for a successful project.
The City Council and staff will continue to advocate for the community and work with the County to ensure the project is able to provide our homeless residents with stable and affordable housing where they can overcome challenges in their lives and achieve self-sufficiency, while maintaining the safety and health of all residents and visitors in Half Moon Bay and the Coastside.
One of our clients (we administer retirement plans) in SF has bought up hotels over the years–now has 22 of them–for this purpose, and they have 350 employees for maintenance etc, most of whom are formerly homeless people. And all of whom now have retirement savings. They’ve been doing this since 1974. Giving someone a home is the first step to improving their physical and mental health, providing skills and job opportunities, and creating stability in their lives.