Sacramento Housing Authority approves $2.8 million in HOME funds for Donner Fields senior apartments

The Sacramento Housing Authority on Monday approved committing an additional $2.8 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds to the Donner Fields Senior Project, a 67-unit affordable housing development for residents 55 and older.

"Staff is requesting approval to commit an additional $2,800,000 of HOME funds to the Donner Fields Senior Project," Whitney Hinton, a staff member with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, told the Housing Authority. The council voted unanimously to approve the commitment after a motion by Councilmember Maple and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Guerra.

The funding is intended to make the project more competitive for low-income housing tax credits and mortgage revenue bonds, city and agency staff said. In June 2023 SHRA executed a conditional loan commitment for the site that included roughly $7 million in SHRA federal HOME and HOPWA dollars, $2.6 million from the Mental Health Services Act, $1.25 million in city general funds and a seller carryback loan, amounting to more than $10 million in previously committed financing.

Donner Fields is planned as new construction primarily of one-bedroom units totaling 67 apartments; 17 units will be reserved for project-based vouchers and clients served through MHSA-supported services. Eden Housing is listed in staff materials as the developer and property manager. The project site is the former Donner School location along Stockton Boulevard, a councilmember noted, and has been under discussion by the agency for many years.

Agency and councilmembers described on-site amenities and service plans: a computer room, multipurpose room, wheelchair-accessible kitchens, barbecue area, bocce ball court and a community garden. SHRA said prevailing wages will apply to construction. Eden Housing Resident Services Inc. will provide about 15 hours of on-site resident services a week, including classes on nutrition, English as a second language and counseling; Sacramento County Department of Health Services will provide one full-time case manager for the 17 MHSA-supported clients.

Councilmembers asked staff follow-up questions about the funding source and project details. Christine Weick of SHRA clarified that the $2.8 million comes from HOME funds awarded in mid-2024 and that the city typically receives about $2.5 million annually in HOME allocations; agency staff said a full accounting of housing finance allocations will be presented to the council in April or May. Weick said once a pre-application is accepted and funds are allocated to a specific project, those funds are not available for other applicants.

Councilmember Dickinson asked whether parking includes electric-vehicle charging; staff said the project design includes two or three charging-capable stalls, and noted additional uncovered parking around the property as well as podium parking beneath the building. Mayor Pro Tem Guerra and other councilmembers said they supported the project and requested an updated list of SHRA-owned vacant lots and their sale status along Stockton Boulevard to show progress on related redevelopment efforts.

The motion to approve the additional HOME commitment carried unanimously with all present councilmembers voting in favor. No members registered opposition or abstention during the roll call vote.

The Housing Authority did not receive public comment on the item during the meeting.