Onizuka Crossing responds to the suburban homelessness epidemic by providing affordable housing in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Developed by MidPen Housing, the new Sunnyvale, Calif., community is surrounded by several of the area’s leading tech firms, but the region is also home to about 6,500 homeless men, women, and children on any given night.
The 58-unit Onizuka Crossing digs deep to provide housing and services to the area’s low-income individuals and families, including 29 households that used to be homeless. It’s fitting that six units are dedicated to formerly homeless veterans and their families.
Years ago, Onizuka Air Force Station became part of the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program and was eyed for other uses, including affordable housing. However, the city asked developers to explore other sites in Sunnyvale, and MidPen agreed to swap its claim on the station for a better city-owned armory site near schools and transportation.
“We were able to take advantage of the BRAC process to get this land for the purposes of homeless housing,” says Helen Tong-Ishikawa, project manager.
After nearly 10 years of work, MidPen turned the armory, which had been a temporary winter shelter, into a permanent affordable community that integrates family housing and supportive services.
The project has one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, serving households earning no more than 30%, 40%, and 50% of the area median income in the high-priced region.
The nonprofit assembled various subsidies so half of the homes could serve formerly homeless families. The six veterans units are supported by Department of Housing and Urban Development—Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing vouchers. In addition to the rental assistance, the vets receive services through the VA. MidPen secured local and state resources so 23 more units could serve formerly homeless families.
“It’s a bit of a quilt on the operating subsidy because of the requirement to provide homeless housing,” says Nevada Merriman, director of housing development at MidPen. “Our challenge was to figure out and find the subsidies to support that and a high level of services.”
The community features three different courtyards that help break up the development and give residents different areas to enjoy. Services include an after-school program.
The $32.3 million development is financed largely with low-income housing tax credit equity from Union Bank.
