At the Feb. 20 council meeting, Yuba-Sutter Habitat for Humanity Executive Director John Nicoletti announced nearly $25 million in affordable housing funds for Yuba City under California Homekey Round Three.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Yuba City mayor and the City Council officially accepted millions of dollars in affordable housing funds at their Feb. 20 regular meeting. 

Habitat for Humanity Yuba-Sutter Executive Director John Nicoletti was called to the podium to speak on the significance of nearly $25 million from California's Homekey funding for Merriment Village Apartments that will serve families, seniors, individuals with disabilities and veterans.

"Those who will be served in this process are going to have a whole new access to quality of life," Nicoletti said.

Competition for the third round of funds was challenging, according to Nicoletti, who said that Yuba City was up against highly populated areas, including San Diego, the county and city of Los Angeles, Fresno and Oakland.  

"Of those cities mentioned, this city acquired 25 percent of that available money," Nicolette said.

Merriment Village Apartment’s award of just under $25 million is significant, according to City Manager Diana Langley, who told the Territorial Dispatch that Yuba City's project is set apart from other statewide proposals. 

"The project is for new construction, while other Homekey projects have focused on converting hotels and motels to housing," Langley said. 

Yuba City Mayor Shon Harris said the award is a manifestation of many meetings, discussions and staff hours that will result in hundreds of residents having a safe and secure place to call home. 

"The benefits gained through the partnerships created and enhanced through this project are immeasurable," Harris said. "These relationships will be leveraged as we continue to work with our partners in search of similar future opportunities."  

The millions in funds will complete 79 two-bedroom, four-story dwellings, additional site infrastructures and a Supportive Outreach Services Department, according to Habitat for Humanity Board President and CEO Joesph Hale. The department oversee the permanent housing sites and provide case management and social services, including counseling and coordinating medical needs.

"The remaining balance will be used for programmatic services," Langley said. "The commitment of additional funding from Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter and the city of Yuba City will also help fill the gaps by assisting in certain development fees and in-kind materials and funding from Habitat."

According to the city manager, there is a significant need for affordable housing in the Yuba-Sutter region, noting the long waiting list for single residents and families. 

"With the Merriment Village Apartments, the city desires to provide a quality affordable housing project that will serve the community for decades to come," Langley said.

Habit for Humanity's success with prior affordable housing funds added to the third round, Hale said, noting that the group rehabilitated a 63-unit hotel and constructed a new 33-unit apartment building in the first round.

"The planning and design work that went into the project ahead of time showed a great deal of commitment, and it is a large project that will serve many people," Hale said. 

Future project phases include an additional 138 one-bedroom dwellings and studio apartments that "provide a great opportunity for housing within the community and is located at an infill development site that has sat vacant for decades," according to Langley.

When complete, Hale said, there will be 217 affordable housing units, with the majority set for families.

"The other focus will be elderly individuals who have had the most urgent need with Social Security paying less per month than most area rents," Hale said. 

Any opportunity Yuba City has within its purview to participate in providing affordable housing to residents is a wise use of time and resources, Mayor Harris said.

"By making quality and reliable housing available, residents are then able to focus on career, family, education and even recreation endeavors, which enhances the quality of life for everyone," Harris said, adding a special thanks to Habitat for Humanity and the California Housing and Community Development. "Yuba City, and Yuba Sutter as a whole, will be even better because of Merriment Village."