Bay Area/ San Francisco

San Francisco Breaks Ground on Mission District's Affordable Senior Housing Project to Fight Homelessness

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Published on July 24, 2024
San Francisco Breaks Ground on Mission District's Affordable Senior Housing Project to Fight HomelessnessSource: Google Street View

In a significant push to combat homelessness among senior citizens, Mayor London N. Breed has celebrated the groundbreaking of a 100% affordable housing project at 1633 Valencia Street. According to the City and County of San Francisco, this development in the Mission District is set to provide 145 units of permanent supportive housing for seniors aged 55 and older who are either currently experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. These future residents will benefit from rents pegged to no more than 30% of their income, a relief for those with earnings up to 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

The initiative is a practical embodiment of Mayor Breed's Housing for All strategy, supported by a collaborative funding effort that includes contributions from the newly launched Bay Area Housing Innovation Fund. This strategy is ambitiously aiming "to ensure our residents, including vulnerable populations like our seniors, can afford to live in this City,” Mayor Breed said, according to the City and County of San Francisco. The Bay Area Housing Innovation Fund, with its partners Sobrato Philanthropies, Destination: Home, and Apple, has already pledged $50 million to expedite affordable housing projects.

Located on what was once a Sears parking lot adjacent to the CPMC Mission Bernal Sutter medical campus, the new housing development promises not only a roof but a range of community amenities. Residents will have convenient access to public transportation, with several MUNI bus lines nearby and the 24th Street Mission BART station a short walk away. Neighborhood-serving businesses, including a grocery store and pharmacy, further contribute to the local quality of life.

Supervisor Hillary Ronan publicly expressed her pride at the groundbreaking, stating, as per the City and County of San Francisco, “Our community’s unhoused seniors deserve to age well in dignified housing. I am so proud that we are breaking ground at 1633 Valencia Street today and that 145 homeless seniors will soon have compassionate, permanent, and supportive housing right in the middle of District 9.” The project is moving quickly towards a December 2025 completion, with resident move-in scheduled for May 2026. Moreover, the development is being executed by Mercy Housing California under a special code that facilitates the procurement of homeless services and hastens the delivery of supportive housing units.

This housing initiative is expected to have significant long-term financial support, with approximately $80.7 million in operating subsidies provided through the City’s Local Operating Subsidy Program (LOSP) over the next 19 years. This backing underlines the city's commitment to maintain the housing and support services for the seniors who will call 1633 Valencia home.