Menlo Park is soon home to a new affordable housing project, Oak Gardens, dedicated specifically to supporting veterans and their families who have experienced homelessness. The project broke ground last Wednesday, with community members, veterans advocates, and political figures in attendance to celebrate the start of construction on the 2.1-acre site on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System campus, as per the County of San Mateo.

The development, spearheaded by MidPen Housing, will provide 62 homes nestled among large heritage trees, complete with gardens and outdoor community spaces. This project is especially important in the region where affordable housing remains critical. "One of the hardest impediments we face to build housing is the land," Supervisor Ray Mueller was quoted, per the County of San Mateo, acknowledging the VA's lease of their underutilized land as key to the development of Oak Gardens.

Veterans living at Oak Gardens will have a roof over their heads and easy access to the essential medical and support services offered by the VA. The site will also include various amenities to foster community, such as a community garden, dog run, walking path, and meditation circle, as well as proximity to local shops, groceries, restaurants, and schools.

MidPen Housing President and CEO Matthew O. Franklin told the County of San Mateo, "We’re honored to collaborate with the VA on Oak Gardens, a significant opportunity to provide affordable homes and comprehensive services to veterans in need." Emphasizing the project's alignment with wider goals to combat homelessness amongst veterans, the development of Oak Gardens is a testament to collaboration between public and private entities, drawing funding from a variety of sources such as San Mateo County, which chipped in $1,407,792 from the local Measure K half-cent sales tax, along with contributions from the City of Menlo Park, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, and several banking and housing organizations.