• May 27, 2025 - The City of Torrance coordinated for residents and businesses to have their voices heard before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project, despite the City’s formal opposition.
  
  
• June 2, 2025 - In response to the LA County Board’s decision to advance the Homekey+ project in Torrance, the City contacted the offices of Governor Gavin Newsom, State Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, and U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
  
  
• June 6, 2025 - The City formally requested the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to deny the Extended Stay America Hotel on 3525 Torrance Boulevard site in the County's Homekey+ application based on the lack of community engagement, inappropriate site selection, unresolved service capacity issues, financial concerns regarding the inflated purchase price, and strong local opposition.
  
  
• June 26, 2025 - Mayor Chen extended an invitation to Supervisor Janice Hahn and Weingart Center executives to engage directly with City leaders and residents.
  
  
• July 2, 2025 - Torrance Mayor, George K. Chen along with City staff met at Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office in San Pedro to present alternative sites to the proposed Homekey+ location. During the meeting, Supervisor Hahn heard the City’s plea to exclude the Torrance Boulevard site from the County’s application and to consider more viable, community aligned options.

The City of Torrance is opposed to the currently identified HomeKey+ location on Torrance Boulevard due to several significant concerns.

• Location & Scale: The proposed 120-unit facility is situated adjacent to the Civic Center and the existing 3290 Temporary Housing Village, raising issues about the over-concentration of supportive housing services in one area.
• Lack of community collaboration: The project was planned without meaningful discussion or input from Torrance residents or City officials, leading to concerns about transparency and public engagement.
• Public Safety & Service Capacity: Serious implications for public safety and City resources.
• Economic & Transit Impact: The site's close proximity to the Del Amo Fashion Center and City Hall raises concerns about disruptions to commercial activity and increased traffic congestion.
• Financial Inefficiency: High acquisition cost of the hotel property and the long-term challenges associated with funding and operational sustainability.

Yes. On July 2, Mayor Chen and City staff proposed two City-owned alternatives to Supervisor Hahn:

1. Torrance Regional Transit Center
2. Civic Center Campus

These sites offer better scalability, City oversight, and integration—modeling after the City’s success with the 3290 Temporary Housing Village.

• Visit and sign up on the City’s official HomeKey+ webpage for updates.
• Attend public meetings and hearings.
• Share the City’s social media posts to increase community awareness.
• Engage with County and state officials, advocating for alternative sites.

• https://www.instagram.com/california_hcd/
• https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaHCD
• https://x.com/California_HCD
• Email Your Concerns: Homekey@hcd.ca.gov

HCD has announced the first seven awards for the HomeKey+ program, funding projects across California in cities including Goleta, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Auburn, Modesto, along with counties in Nevada, Los Angeles, Placer, and Modesto.

On June 30, 2025, HCD announced HomeKey+ first round of awardees with funding agreements finalized within five months of award issuance. Additional grants may be awarded in later rounds.

Homekey+ applications will continue to be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis. So far, HCD received 67 Homekey+ applications requesting 1.147 billion.

Article link:  Governor Announces First Awardees of Voter-Approved Program to Fund Permanent Supportive Affordable Housing | California Department of Housing and Community Development

At an emergency City Council meeting on May 23, 2025 The Torrance City Council voted to oppose the Los Angeles County’s planned submission of a joint Homekey+ funding application to the State of California for a permanent supportive housing project at 3525 Torrance Blvd., the current site of the Extended Stay America Hotel. View Opposition Letter

After the May 23rd emergency City Council meeting, The City of Torrance encouraged the community to urge the LA County Board of Supervisors to reconsider the application. 
Efforts included:

• A social media campaign and communications to raise awareness about the public hearing, project and its potential impact.
• Free and accessible round-trip shuttle service to the LA County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on May 27
• Online resources for community members to provide public comment, stream the public hearing live, stay informed and involved.

Thank you, Torrance Community! 

There was a tremendous turnout on Tuesday, May 27 at the LA County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing regarding the Board’s proposed permanent supportive housing, Homekey+ Program application. Thank you for showing up, speaking out, and demonstrating just how much you care about what happens in Torrance.

The City of Torrance just released the results of an independent appraisal of the Extended Stay America Hotel located at 3525 Torrance Boulevard, the proposed site for the State-funded Homekey+ permanent supportive housing initiative. 

View appraisal findings.