Homekey Palo Alto Celebrates Ribbon Cutting and Preview
Published on May 14, 2026
City of Palo Alto and LifeMoves Celebrate Ribbon Cutting and Preview of Homekey Palo Alto Interim Housing Community
$37.2M modular housing community to annually support over 200 people experiencing homelessness with interim housing and supportive services
PALO ALTO, CALIF. –The City of Palo Alto and LifeMoves today celebrated a ribbon cutting and first look at Homekey Palo Alto, a new supportive housing community designed to provide safe interim housing and wraparound supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Developed through California’s Project Homekey program, Homekey Palo Alto is set to welcome individuals and families at the end of June.
“This project reflects what is possible when local governments, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations and the community work together toward real housing solutions,” said Vicki Veenker, Palo Alto mayor. “Homekey Palo Alto will provide more than shelter; it will provide stability, dignity and supportive services for people working toward permanent housing and a brighter future.”
First-of-its-kind in Palo Alto, the new $37.2M modular interim housing community is located at 1237 San Antonio Road on a 1-acre lot near the Baylands Nature Preserve and is set to expand pathways toward long-term housing stability and enhance the local homeless response system. Designed to foster safety, stability and connection for individuals and families, the state-of-the-art Homekey Palo Alto community offers 88 private units with ensuite showers and bathrooms. Amenities include on-site laundry, a dining hall, and outdoor spaces such as a dog run, community garden, playground and picnic area, as well as designated spaces for on-site counseling, vocational training, and other supportive services.
“Every element of this community was designed with intention, creating a welcoming environment that encourages clients to come indoors, restore their sense of stability and take meaningful steps toward the future they deserve,” said LifeMoves Interim CEO Nicholas Hodges. “As the largest provider of interim housing in Silicon Valley, LifeMoves continues to raise the bar for client-informed services and thoughtfully designed communities that foster dignity, resilience and renewed possibility for every person who walks through our doors.”
Owned by the City of Palo Alto and operated by LifeMoves, a nonprofit organization focused on ending homelessness through interim housing and supportive services, Homekey Palo Alto is expected to annually support over 200 people experiencing homelessness by providing interim housing alongside on-site case management, physical and behavioral healthcare, employment support, educational development, legal services, pet care and connections to permanent housing opportunities.
Capital funding for the project included State Homekey dollars and local contributions from the Palo Alto Community Fund, The Peery Foundation, Sobrato Philanthropies, County of Santa Clara, the City of Palo Alto, and LifeMoves, representing a collaborative investment in interim housing and regional housing solutions.
John A. Sobrato shared his vision supporting interim housing options like Homekey Palo Alto, "Housing insecurity remains one of the most urgent challenges facing Silicon Valley, and projects like Homekey Palo Alto show what's possible when public and private partners rally around real solutions. My wife Sue and I are proud to support this community — not just as a set of buildings, but as a place where neighbors can find stability, services, and a path forward. Our family and Sobrato Philanthropies envision a Silicon Valley where every person has the dignity of a safe, stable home, and Homekey Palo Alto is a meaningful step toward that."
Homekey Palo Alto reflects broader regional efforts to expand interim and supportive housing options throughout Santa Clara County and the Bay Area through partnerships between government agencies, nonprofit providers and philanthropy. County of Santa Clara support includes ongoing operational funding and, in partnership with the City, ensures that LifeMoves operations advances coordinated housing and supportive services guided by proven homelessness response best practices.
County of Santa Clara Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga said, “First, many thanks to former Supervisor Joe Simitian and Supervisor Otto Lee for spearheading the County’s supplemental capital funding needed to advance this important project. This amazing Homekey Palo Alto community advances and aligns with the County’s commitment to end homelessness and we are thrilled to celebrate with regional partners.”
In addition to touring the new Homekey Palo Alto, attendees heard from Sheana Price, a Palo Alto native who first experienced homelessness as a young teen. She discussed accepting help from a LifeMoves outreach team member and transitioning to interim housing in a neighboring community. Overcoming adversity and rebuilding her life, today, she is a prominent fixture at the local drop-in Opportunity Services Center, coordinating volunteers and connecting with prospective Homekey Palo Alto clients.
Palo Alto has long been a leader in producing affordable housing in Santa Clara County, with approximately 2,300 units or approximately 9% of total Palo Alto housing stock dedicated to affordable housing. The City has contributed or pledged over $57 million towards increasing and preserving affordable housing since 2017. Homekey Palo Alto joins several other notable local affordable housing projects recently opened or advancing such as Wilton Court, Mitchell Park Place, Charities Housing on El Camino Real, Alta Housing Lot T Downtown and new affordable teacher housing at 231 Grant Road.
For more on Homekey Palo Alto, visit www.paloalto.gov/homekey.
For details about LifeMoves Homekey Palo Alto location and services, visit https://lifemoves.org/growth/.
Learn about Palo Alto housing priorities, programs and achievements at www.paloalto.gov/housing.
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Photo and Video Reference From Left to Right: Paul Simpson, Chief Financial Officer, LifeMoves; Helen Wolter, Senior Field Representative, Office of Assemblymember Marc Berman; Alex Kobayashi, District Representative, Office of State Senator Josh Becker; John A. Sobrato, Founder and Board Chair Emeritus of The Sobrato Organization; Ed Lauing, Palo Alto City Council Member; Melissa Selcher, LifeMoves Board Chairperson; Keith Reckdahl, Palo Alto City Council Member; Vicki Veenker, Palo Alto Mayor; Nick Hodges, Interim CEO, LifeMoves; Margaret Abe-Koga, County of Santa Clara Supervisor; Sheana Price, Palo Alto native who first experienced homelessness as a young teen; Tammy Crown, LifeMoves Board Vice Chair; Laurie Castillo, LIfeMoves Board Member; Francesca Segre, Congressman Sam Liccardo’s Office.
Media Contacts:
CITY OF PALO ALTO
Meghan Horrigan-Taylor
Chief Communications Officer
City Manager's Office
Office Phone: (650) 329-2607
Email: Meghan.Horrigan-Taylor@paloalto.gov
LIFEMOVES
Maria Prato
Public Relations Manager
609-529-5593
mprato@lifemoves.org