Affordable Veterans’ Housing is Part of Apple’s Initiative

PITTSBURG, CA—Construction is now underway on Veterans Square, a 30-unit affordable housing development for veterans. The project is located at 901 Los Medanos St.

Apple and Housing Trust Silicon Valley, a nonprofit community loan fund that works to create affordable housing in the Greater Bay Area, are among the financing partners. The Apple Affordable Housing Fund is part of the comprehensive $2.5 billion commitment Apple made in November 2019 to help address the California housing availability and affordability crisis.

“Getting affordable housing built faster has been a crucial objective and the Apple Affordable Housing Fund is helping deliver on that goal,” said Julie Mahowald, interim CEO of Housing Trust Silicon Valley. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to help such a committed housing partner create new homes for our veterans and to expand our lending footprint in Contra Costa County.”

Additional funding sources include loans from Chase, the city of Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, State Department of Housing and Community Development, No Place Like Home and Multifamily Housing Programs, and a commitment of Section 8 and VASH vouchers from the Pittsburg Housing Authority.

According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, there are more than 10,000 veterans currently experiencing homelessness in California alone. And on a national front, affordable veteran housing is desperately needed throughout the country as well.

“Veterans Square will give back to formerly homeless and formerly homeless veterans who served our country, providing them with a safe and stable place to call home,” said James Vossoughi, vice president of community development banking at Chase. “Affordable housing is a vital component of community sustainability and development, and we’re proud to work with Satellite Affordable Housing Associates on this critical project in Pittsburg.”

Veterans Square is located in the Old Town neighborhood near restaurants, houses of worship and frequent bus service. It is approximately a mile from the Pittsburg BART station.

The building is designed to GreenPoint Rated GOLD standards and will use photovoltaic, solar thermal systems and other green features. There will also be a community garden for residents and a secure bike storage room to reduce the need for personal motor vehicles.

“At SAHA, we see the tremendous need for housing opportunities for veterans. We see homeless veterans on the streets and we see them on waiting lists for affordable housing,” Susan Friedland, chief executive officer of Satellite Affordable Housing Associates, tells GlobeSt.com. “This partnership will enable us to create beautiful new affordable homes for these brave men and women who have served our country.”

A virtual groundbreaking celebration was held on Veteran’s Day, according to Satellite Affordable Housing Associates.

“Veteran’s Square builds on our pattern to creating housing for veterans as we completed Tabora Gardens Senior Apartments in Antioch in 2018, which had set aside 34 of the 85 affordable homes for veterans,” says Friedland.