HOUSING DEPARTMENT
ARENA HOTEL INTERIM
HOUSING PROGRAM
October 28, 2025 Item 8.1
City Council
Erik L. Soliván
Director
Housing Department
Cupid Alexander
Deputy Director
Housing Department
Slide 210/27/2025
a. Brief History
b. Current Challenges and Opportunities
c. Moving Forward
• HomeKey Project – Hotel Conversion
• FY2025-26 Appropriation: $5,920,073
• Funding Sources: Measure E / Project HomeKey 2.0
• Date Opened: 8/28/2023
• Address: 817 The Alameda | Council District: 6
• Composition: 89 Units / 114 Beds
• Current Prioritization: Downtown
• Eligible Population: Adults / Couples (no minors)
Brief History
10/27/2025 Slide 3
a. OPERATIONS
- Location: Site within a business district presents unique challenges not experienced by other interim housing sites - Staffing: High visibility, high traffic business, activity, and pedestrian corridor. Increased security staffing needed. - Funding: HomeKey funding for operations constrained staffing plan; required Measure E supplement b. LACK OF REDEVELOPMENT PLANNING
- Delayed redevelopment initiation
- Financially infeasible project
- Current RFP out for new project partner
c. IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD
- Additional debris/litter. Leverage internal SJ Bridge program to assist with clean up. - Nonparticipants near site; increased dedicated outreach. - Community compatibility & safety concerns; utilized the community advisory committee to mitigate issues.
Current Challenges and Opportunities
10/27/2025 Slide 4
• WeHOPE assuming operations and management of the site Supportive Services
Property Management / Building Maintenance
Site Security
• New developer selection
Procurement in process
• Subsidy layering opportunity
The Housing Authority Board has approved $2.1 million per year over the next three years to the site to help stabilize operations and transition more individuals to permanent housing (PMI Model)
Slide 5
Moving Forward
10/27/2025