New affordable homes provide hope for low-income renters in Walnut Creek

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Susan Friedland, Executive Director

Arboleda Grand Opening Celebration Thursday, May 14, 2015 9:30am to Noon Program at 10:30am Interviews and tours available 1550 Third Avenue, Walnut Creek

New affordable homes provide hope for low-income renters in Walnut Creek.

SAHA’s Arboleda Apartments provides a quality, affordable alternative for low-income families and people with special needs in Walnut Creek.

May 5, 2015 – Walnut Creek, CA. On Thursday, May 14, Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) will celebrate the grand opening of Arboleda Apartments, 48 new affordable homes for low-income families and people with special needs.

The homes are a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments and include both two story townhomes and flats. Common amenities include a community room opening onto an expansive internal courtyard, a computer room, and a children’s play structure. The project received LEED for Homes Platinum certification in recognition of the numerous environmentally sustainable features incorporated into its design.

Of the 48 apartments, 15 are reserved for households with disabilities. It is estimated that Contra Costa will need 3,900 affordable homes for people with developmental disabilities in the next 10 years. Safe, stable, affordable housing developments like Arboleda will allow Walnut Creek residents with developmental disabilities and their families to live with dignity and to thrive.

In addition to the apartments, the onsite services are critical to ensuring residents with developmental disabilities are living independently, accessing resources for food, transportation, home health, activities with their neighbors, and volunteer opportunities which help them remain and reach their potential in the Arboleda community.

According to SAHA Executive Director Susan Friedland, “Arboleda is a first step toward meeting the growing need for affordable homes in Contra Costa County for families and for households with disabilities. The city and county have made an investment in future generations of Walnut Creek residents by financing housing like Arboleda. We believe it will be a community asset for generations.”

Mayor Simmons of Walnut Creek says, “The Arboleda is a great addition to the supply of affordable housing in Walnut Creek and particularly to the Third Avenue neighborhood, as it replaces several blighted apartment buildings with attractive, affordable housing units in a convenient location. After providing funding for site acquisition and some pre-development efforts, we are pleased and excited that Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) has completed this project that will benefit our community.” Arboleda will provide permanent affordable housing for households whose income is at or below 50% of the area median. The Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa is providing 29 project-based Section 8 vouchers, which enables low income households to pay only 1/3 of their income for rent.

Funding comes from City of Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa, Wells Fargo Bank, CTCAC, California Housing Finance Agency, Mental Health Services Act, California Community Reinvestment, Federal Home Loan Bank AHP, California Dept. of Developmental Services

Arboleda was designed by architect Van Meter William Pollack LLP and built by James E. Roberts-Obayashi, Inc., general contractor.

About Satellite Affordable Housing Associates At Satellite Affordable Housing Associates we believe everyone deserves a home. Everyday we work to provide high-quality affordable homes and support services that empower people and strengthen communities. SAHA’s 60 innovative properties provide more than 3,000 homes to low-income seniors, families, and people with special needs.

SAHA is a proud participant of EBHO's 19th Annual Affordable Housing Week. Visit www.ebho.org for more information. Follow the conversation on Twitter @EBHO_Housing and #AHW2015