Groundbreaking for Permanent Supportive Housing in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, CA for Local Disabled and Homeless Veterans
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA – October 28, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Mercy Housing California is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for its newest permanent supportive, affordable housing community in the Sacramento Region – Mather Veterans Village – on Thursday, October 30, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon, 3611 Bleckely Street, Rancho Cordova, California 95655 with a speakers program, turning of the dirt and luncheon.
Mather Veterans Village (MVV) Phase 1 is the first of three phases that will provide veterans with critically needed housing options and supportive services located adjacent to the Sacramento Veterans Administration Medical Center. MVV is the result of years of collaboration between Mercy Housing California and Veterans Resource Centers of America (VRCA); the City of Rancho Cordova; Sacramento County; Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency; and the Sacramento Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center / VA Northern California Health Care System. Each member of the partnership contributed essential components that are making the vision a reality. MVV matches the most basic and severe needs of our local veterans in this unparalleled, ideal location.
The new community’s three phases will be situated on a 3.65 acre site of the former Mather Air Force Base and one block from the hub of Northern California VA medical services. Phase 1 consists of 50 newly constructed permanent supportive homes. An existing building on site, the Infirmary, will be renovated and adapted to provide offices, meeting and community space as part of Phase 1. The remainder of the Infirmary will be part of Phase 2, with up to 60 beds of transitional housing to be operated by VRCA. Phase 3 will consist of an additional 50 permanent supportive homes on the site.
Phase 1 of MVV will consist of 44 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom permanent supportive homes for disabled and formerly homeless veterans. The development will provide four attached three-story, wood-framed structures with two elevators. Additionally, Phase 1 will include outside recreation space, laundry facilities, storage, maintenance and parking on a one-acre portion of the MVV site. Phase 1 construction will begin in December 2014, with the Village’s first residents moving into their new homes by April 2016. Property management services will be provided by Mercy Housing Management Group. The comprehensive on-site support services will be organized and provided by VRCA in partnership with the VA and Mercy Housing, along with an extensive group of collaborative partners offering a wide range of support services including health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, assistance in applying for Veterans benefits, and employment services.
Most important, Mather Veterans Village will provide local Veterans, men and women, with quality, safe, affordable housing in an attractive and service-enriched community that will allow them to stabilize their living situations and gain better access to much needed services, all in a place they can call home.
Mather Veterans Village FINANCING PARTNERS:
• City of Rancho Cordova
• County of Sacramento
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• California Department of Housing and Community Development
• Wells Fargo Bank
• California Tax Credit Allocation Committee
• Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
• Sacramento Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center / VA Northern California Health Care System
Mather Veterans Village DEVELOPMENT TEAM:
• Developer: Mercy Housing California
• Architect: Mogavero Notestine Associates
• Civil Engineer: Warren Consulting Engineers
• General Contractor: Broward Builders, Inc.
• Property Management: Mercy Housing Management Group
• Resident Services: Veterans Resource Centers of America
MATHER VETERANS VILLAGE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
Thursday, October 30, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon, 3611 Bleckely Street, Rancho Cordova, California 95655; speakers program begins approximately 10:30 a.m., turning of the dirt will take place approximately 11:30 a.m. followed by a buffet luncheon.
PROGRAM
Opening Ceremony
• Welcome / Master of Ceremonies – Doug Shoemaker, President, Mercy Housing California
• Presentation of the Colors and Pledge of Allegiance – VFW Post 10125 / Benjamin Robinson, Commander; Clifton Billings, Community Service Officer; Mark Wittkopp, Adjutant
• Opening Prayer – Rev. Amy Goodwin-Solem
• The National Anthem – Phil Rios, Desert Storm Veteran
Invited Speakers
• Congressman Ami Bera, U.S. House of Representatives, 7th Congressional District of California
• Assemblyman Ken Cooley, California State Assembly, District 8
• Supervisor Don Nottoli, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, District 5
• Robert J. McGarvey, Vice Mayor, City of Rancho Cordova
• William J. Pavão, Executive Director, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee
• Claudia Cappio, Director, California Department of Housing and Community Development
• Maria F. Cremer, Director, Office of Community Planning & Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Tim McCann, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank
• La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
• David Stockwell, Director, Veterans Administration Northern California Health Care System
• Marc Deal, Chief Operations Officer, Veterans Resource Centers of America
• Don Harper, The Veterans Affiliated Council, Sacramento Region
• James Jacobs, Veteran and Resident of El Monte Veterans Village
Closing Ceremony
• Closing Remarks – Doug Shoemaker
• Closing Prayer – Rev. Amy Goodwin-Solem
• Retirement of the Colors – VFW Post 10125
• Closing Song – Phil Rios
• Turning of the Dirt
PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
• City, County, State and Congressional elected officials; agency representatives and special guests;
• Group photo of the event speakers officially “turning the dirt” for the project’s groundbreaking;
• Project site tours
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
About Mercy Housing
Mercy Housing California (MHC) is the largest regional division of national nonprofit Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), headquartered in Denver and founded in 1981 with the mission to create stable, vibrant, and healthy communities by developing, financing and operating affordable, program-enriched housing for families, seniors and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access quality, safe housing opportunities.
To date, with a presence in 41 states and 200+ cities, MHI has developed, preserved and financed more than 45,800 affordable homes nationwide, both rental and single family, serving more than 152,600 adults and children on any given day.
In addition to Mather Veterans Village in Rancho Cordova, and numerous projects in development statewide, Mercy Housing California has developed more than 140 rental properties across 36 counties serving low- and very low-income working poor families, senior citizens, persons who were formerly homeless, people with disabilities and persons living with HIV/AIDS. For more information about Mercy Housing, please visit http://www.mercyhousing.org.
About Veterans Resource Centers of America
Veterans Resource Centers of America, Inc. (VRCA) is a community-based organization, serving veterans and non-veterans since 1972. The organization’s goal is to support individuals and families as they build better lives for themselves, their families, and our communities. With offices throughout the Western United States, VRCA is committed to meeting the needs of disenfranchised citizens by providing a wide array of comprehensive programs and services, which include but are not limited to homeless prevention and re-housing, employment and training programs, transitional housing, behavioral health treatment, permanent supportive housing, nutrition services, case management, resource centers and humanitarian efforts.
