Affordable Senior Housing Projects Planned in Visalia

Plans for two affordable senior housing projects are currently going through the City of Visalia's approval process.

Both projects are being planned as affordable housing, which has strict guidelines from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Christian Church Homes (CCH), which built The Meadows, Oak Meadows and Sierra Meadows in Visalia, submitted plans for Visalia affordable senior housing with 70 units on the 2400 block of North Highland Street.

The project includes a 1,200-sq.ft. community room and kitchen, which open up to an outdoor amenity space for large events, as well as a classroom that can become a library or computer room. In addition to a community garden and laundry facilities, there will either be a fitness area or a dog run.

"We always like to set up a flexible space and then work with residents to see what they really want," explained Sidney Stone, CCH director of real estate development.

"If the residents want to have a Sunday or Saturday service, they can certainly get a room for that," he said.

"All of our units are designed so they can accommodate the needs of our residents," said Stone. "The cabinets can be lowered very easily and there are bars in the showers."

The project is currently called CCH Visalia Senior Affordable Housing, according to Stone, but he expects the name to change.

"We are going through our funding application period right now, including for this project," he said.

If all goes well, Stone expects to have permits by early 2023 and start leasing sometime in 2024.

CCH also has current projects in Redding (60 units), Hayward (80 units), Reedley (70 units) and Sacramento (150 units), as well as new developments in Tennessee, Colorado and Arizona.

Visalia Senior Village

Visalia Senior Village, a project of Studio 5 LLLP, is planned as a 140-unit senior housing complex with both single and two-story units planned on the property at the corner of Douglas Avenue and Tracy Street in Visalia.

The project will include a gathering room with kitchen for social events, laundry facilities, a gym for working out and for aerobics instruction, and a swimming pool.

"I know there's a big need for senior housing in Visalia," said Justo Padron Jr., CEO of Studio 5, which is based in Fresno where they are planning another senior homes project.

"We plan to submit to the city by the end of the year," he said, adding that if all goes according to plan, the project would be completed in 2024.

What is Affordable Housing?

(The following is from http://www.housingca.org)

HUD considers housing to be affordable when a household spends 30% or less of its income on housing costs. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), in 2021, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment in California was $2,030.

In order to afford this level of rent and utilities - without paying more than 30% of income on housing - a household must earn $6,766 monthly, or $81,191 annually. To put this in perspective, renters currently need to earn nearly three times the state minimum wage to afford average asking rents in California.

Affordable housing can be any type of property, including single family homes, duplexes, or multi-family buildings. However, multi-family buildings comprise most affordable housing, as these types of developments are much more cost effective and able to serve many more households. Similarly, affordable housing can be rental housing or owner-occupied housing, but the majority of affordable housing stock is rental housing.

Most affordable housing is made affordable to low-income households by subsidizing the rents or mortgage that the occupants are paying. Just as the government subsidizes critical infrastructure like water and sanitation or healthcare for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income households, so too does the government help pay for housing for those who need it.