Construction officially kicked off Thursday on The Haven on Palm, a 50-unit affordable housing community for older adults rising at 455 Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach. The $48 million project is being built at the Palm Avenue site.
The groundbreaking follows Thursday's construction kickoff on Sept. 3, 2026, according to San Diego County. Wakeland Housing and Development Corp. is leading the project, with completion expected by early 2028. The project overall targets seniors aged 65 and older.
Project Development
General contractor Allgire General Contractors is now building the three-story development.
The project is funded by a mix of public, private and community partners.
Neighborhood Center Scaled Back After Community Pushback
The Haven on Palm will sit next to the Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center, which provides food assistance and other support services to local residents.
The Neighborhood Center serves local residents.
A Regional Crisis Driving the Project's Urgency
The timing reflects a broader demographic shift playing out across the county. Adults aged 55 and older now account for 33% of San Diego County's unsheltered population, up from 29% in 2025, according to the Regional Task Force on Homelessness 2026 Point-in-Time Count reported by the Times of San Diego. That's despite an overall 11% regional drop in unsheltered homelessness. The figures highlight the growing share of older adults among people experiencing homelessness.
Unhoused seniors also stay homeless far longer than younger residents. Regional Task Force on Homelessness data cited by KPBS showed that unhoused adults 55 and older in San Diego County remained homeless for an average of 234 days during fiscal year 2025, compared with 193 days for adult households overall.
Wakeland's Growing Footprint
Wakeland Housing and Development Corp. is leading the project.
The county's affordable housing efforts include investments and projects in development.
San Diego County issued the announcement, which includes video.
