On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed to ask for state funding to acquire a second Long Beach location as part of Project Homekey, a program that seeks to convert motels or hotels into housing for the homeless.

Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents Long Beach, submitted the motion asking for state funding to purchase and operate the Holiday Inn on 1133 Atlantic Ave. as supportive housing. The deadline for acquisitions to be funded by the state is Dec. 30, but according to the motion, the county plans to convert the hotel “as soon as possible to provide needed permanent housing and supportive services.”

If approved, the state would provide the majority of the funding necessary to buy the property, $17.5 million, with the county providing matching funds of $4 million.

The project is one of two hotel and motel conversions the county plans to support in Long Beach. The second one, the Motel 6 Long Beach at 5665 E. Seventh St., was approved by the board on Sept. 29, and would provide 43 units.

The city of Long Beach also plans to acquire at least one property to be converted into supportive or transitional housing as part of the state’s Homekey program. According to Mayor Robert Garcia, that project would create approximately 100 housing units.

“Project Homekey is making possible new housing options for those experiencing homelessness in Long Beach,” Garcia said in a statement on Wednesday. “Motel conversions are absolutely one way we are able to address homelessness statewide.”

In July 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the conversion program, which made $550 million in grant funding available for local jurisdictions to purchase hotels and other properties to be used as interim and permanent supportive housing. Under the program, the state will also provide an additional $50 million in grant funding for operating subsidies.