KING CITY — Local and county leaders gathered last Wednesday to break ground on Casa de Esperanza, a long-anticipated project that will transform a shuttered motel into 46 studio apartments for individuals experiencing homelessness in King City.
The July 30 groundbreaking ceremony, held at the former Days Inn site at 1130 Broadway St., marked the beginning of a $16.7 million renovation led by the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey (HACM). The two-story structure — originally built in 1969 — will be remodeled into permanent supportive housing, with construction expected to be completed by January 2026.
“This project is a powerful testament to what partnership and perseverance can accomplish,” said Zulieka Boykin, executive director of HACM and CEO of the Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation (MCHADC). “The Housing Authority was honored to collaborate with the City of King, Monterey County and other dedicated partner agencies to help secure the $16.7 million needed to revive this development and bring much-needed housing and renewed hope for local residents.”
Dignitaries and speakers at the event included Supervisor Chris Lopez, King City Mayor Mike LeBarre, County Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa and representatives from the Central California Alliance for Health and Monterey County Homeless Services.
“Central California Alliance for Health is proud to support the acquisition and renovation of Casa de Esperanza through a grant from our Housing Fund initiative,” said Michael Schrader, CEO of the Alliance. “This project embraces a holistic approach to our members’ health, recognizing that stable housing is essential to positive health outcomes. By combining supportive housing with high-quality healthcare services in one location, we empower individuals to improve their well-being and maintain housing stability — advancing our shared vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities.”
Casa de Esperanza (“House of Hope” in English) has been years in the making. Originally part of the state’s Homekey initiative, the property was first purchased by a private developer — Shangri-La Construction — but fell into foreclosure. King City stepped in, purchasing the site for $4.4 million before transferring ownership to HACM this spring for $1.
The project is being funded by a wide coalition, including Monterey County, the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, California Department of Health Care Services and others.
In remarks shared after the ceremony, Supervisor Lopez reflected on the magnitude of the moment: “Earlier today I had the opportunity to help break ground on the first large scale homeless prevention facility in Southern Monterey County,” he wrote. “It’s a partnership that has survived trials and tribulations with true leaders at the helm to bring forward a ladder that will help those ready, and willing, to climb out of the situations they find themselves in.”
Lopez praised Mayor LeBarre’s statement at the event, highlighting the facility’s potential to “end homelessness in King City,” given that the number of new units exceeds the most recent Point-in-Time count of unhoused residents in the area.
“This is a true partnership with the Housing Authority playing a key role in saving this project,” Lopez added. “The County has been at the tip of the spear many a time as well. Thank you to CAO De La Rosa and Roxanne Wilson (director of Monterey County Homeless Services) for their partnership… and to Speaker (Robert) Rivas and his team for always advocating and intervening when appropriate to bring hope to our rural communities.”
Renovation work is expected to begin within the next 60 days. The remodeled site will serve individuals who have been living in encampments along the Salinas River and who were previously relocated into temporary housing. HACM’s property management team will oversee ongoing operations and contract with a service provider to offer wraparound support services on-site.
Once completed, Casa de Esperanza will become the Housing Authority’s 52nd property in Monterey County, bringing its total managed units to 1,870.
