Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) partners with People Assisting The Homeless (PATH) and LA Family Housing (LAFH) in a continuous effort to support Project Homekey, a statewide effort between Los Angeles County and the State of California to relocate unhoused individuals into permanent housing. The utility has provided over $300,000 in assistance towards energy efficiency programs and equipment installation in over 650 Project Homekey units. SoCalGas has been a proud supporter of Project Homekey since its inception in 2020 with active projects at 11 Project Homekey properties.
“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County has taken many actions to reduce and prevent the spread of the virus among people experiencing homelessness, including rapidly standing up long-term, permanent housing opportunities at hotels and motels through Project Homekey,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, supervisor to the First District. “The program is a crucial development and turning point for Angelenos where we can help offer long-term housing for those experiencing homelessness. I am thankful to join forces with SoCalGas and other partners to provide a beacon of hope for our most vulnerable.”
Project Homekey is administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and the state has allocated $2.75 billion in federal funds towards this initiative for the next two years. Funding is available to local public organizations within California to purchase and rehabilitate housing, including hotels, motels, and vacant buildings and convert them into long-term housing in an effort to support Californians impacted by COVID-19 and experiencing homelessness.
Since 2020, SoCalGas has installed low-flow showerheads and aerators as part of the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program within four Homekey sites totaling 164 units. The ESA program helps customers save energy and decrease water usage, translating to significant savings on utility bills. Currently, six Project Homekey sites are scheduled for a central water heating system replacement via
SoCalGas’ ESA Multi-Family Common Area Measures (CAM) program. Additionally, ten properties owned by LAFH, National Core, PATH and The People Concern are enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program, helping customers save 20 percent on their monthly gas bills with combined savings of over $15,000 per year.
With the implementation of Project Homekey, energy efficient tools and strategies can significantly reduce the amount of energy used and lower natural gas bills within Homekey properties.
“Project Homekey is a tremendous opportunity to house additional individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Los Angeles. Our approach is to promote energy efficient upgrades within these units that lower energy usage and help to keep utility bills affordable,” said Gillian Wright, senior vice president and chief customer officer at SoCalGas, and chair of the board for LA Family Housing. “SoCalGas is enthusiastic about this opportunity to address issues within our communities and assist with providing stable housing and much needed relief for people experiencing homelessness.”
“With incredible support from SoCalGas and the City of Los Angeles, we’ve been able to greatly expand available interim and permanent housing in our communities through Project Homekey, the fastest, largest, and most cost-effective method for creating new permanent homes in state history,” said Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, president and CEO at LA Family Housing.