FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Jennifer Flachman, Public Information Officer

                flachmanj@cityofmerced.org, 209-564-0235 

City of Merced Awarded $4.42 Million in Project Homekey to Fund R Street Housing Project 

- State grant will fund the Container Home Project for Veterans experiencing chronic homelessness 

Merced, Calif – Today, the California Department of Housing and Community Development announced that Merced was awarded $4.42 million in funding from the State’s Project Homekey Round 2. This investment will allow the City to leverage resources with partner providers to construct 21 units of permanent supportive housing for Veterans who have experienced chronic homelessness. Units will be constructed at South R Street near Childs Avenue in Merced’s District Two. 

“This is a vital win for Merced,” said Assembly Member Adam Gray. This permanent supportive housing will help Veterans, who are homeless, and their families find and sustain permanent housing. I am glad to see this state funding coming into our community,” said Gray. 

The housing project includes 21-unit modular shipping containers, which will provide permanent supportive housing to homeless Veterans. Residents will have access to supportive services such as intensive case management services, linkages to behavioral, physical health services, assistance obtaining benefits and essential documentation, and educational and employment services. 

“This funding aligns with Council’s Goals and Priorities and remains the largest policy discussion before us,” stated Matthew Serratto, mayor of Merced. Project Homekey funding allows direct state and regional resources to transition the unsheltered into permanent supportive housing,” concluded Serratto. 

District Two Council Member Fernando Echeverria noted, “We recognize that those who are unhoused in our community are our constituents. As we evaluate resources, systems, and infrastructure, we will continue to create opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness to stabilize. Housing creates a fundamental foundation that provides access to healthcare, rehabilitation, job training, and education,” concluded Echeverria. 

Project collaborators include Rescue Mission Merced, Fresno Veterans Affairs, Merced County Behavior Health and Human Services Agency, Merced Housing Authority, City of Merced, and Custom Containers 915. 

“We are proud to be part of this project and look forward to building a living space for Veterans in need in the community of Merced,” stated John Glavin, president of Custom Containers 915. “There are strict guidelines for project construction and completion. Pending fully executed agreements, we anticipate completing construction in an approximate eight-month time frame,” said Glavin. 

Administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), approximately $1.4 billion (FY 2021-22) in grant funding has been made available to local public entities, including cities, counties, or other local public entities, such as housing authorities or Tribal Entities within California. 

Homekey Round 2 continues a statewide effort to sustain and rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and who are inherently impacted by COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. 

For more information about Homekey, visit homekey.hcd.ca.gov. 

For more information about the City of Merced, visit cityofmerced.org. 

For information about Custom Containers, visit customcontainers915.com. 

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