Work Begins on Housing for the Disabled in Orange County

By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor

Santa Ana, Calif.—Ground has been broken for Vista Del Rio, a 41-unit affordable housing property in Santa Ana, Calif., a city in Orange County. The development is a collaboration between AMCAL Multi-Housing, the Foundation for Affordable Housing and the Community of Friends.

The goal of the project is provide physically disabled adults with affordable housing that includes on-site services and various amenities. As with all AMCAL developments, the social services aspect of the property—which comes at no cost to the tenants—is designed to increase or maintain disabled tenants’ independence by providing independent/support living training and vocational services.

The property will include both one- and two-bedroom units. Vista Del Rio will also be built to exceed Title 24 energy standards and be LEED silver certified. To provide convenient living environment for tenants, all kitchens are handicap- accessible and have garbage disposals, dishwashers and other amenities.

The project has been about seven years in the works. Financing, mainly through low-income housing tax credits and loans from the city Santa Ana, has made for a slow process.

Based in Agoura Hills, Calif., AMCAL has developed housing throughout the state since 1978, focusing on the workforce-housing sector in recent years, including family and senior apartments, as well as for-sale housing in emerging urban neighborhoods. Since 2003, AMCAL has been awarded over $392 million in low-income housing tax credits.

A Community of Friends is a regional nonprofit affordable housing developer that specializes in affordable properties for people living with mental illness. The Foundation for Affordable Housing specializes in affordable housing and has developed 100 rental properties in four states.