By Keyshawn Davis

After years of behind the scenes work and collaborations between the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, Itasker Hollins Community Economic Development Corporation and development partner Related California, a new affordable senior housing development on 39th street and Broadway began construction on July 28. 

The new housing development in Oak Park is designed for seniors who are 62 years old or older and is located across the street from senior housing The Arbors. 

“Projects like this don’t just provide a roof over these seniors’ heads, they provide a community,”  said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg in a press release from Related California.

The 39th and Broadway development will be a three-story building that will include 43 units with 36 one-bedroom apartments and seven studio apartments. Twelve out of the 43 units will serve formerly homeless seniors whose rents will be subsidized by what is called a project-based rental assistance contract, according to Pastor Itasker Hollins Jr. of All Nations Church of God in Christ.

Hollins Jr., also a board member of the Itasker Hollins Community Economic Development Corporation, said the new development is an exciting collaboration. It will also be the second half of the senior housing of The Arbors. 

“It’s a collaboration to provide safe and affordable housing for seniors, and 39th and Broadway reflects our nonprofits’ commitment to addressing the shortfall of affordable senior housing in the Oak Park community. And that’s where my father’s legacy was,” said Hollins Jr., referring to Itasker Hollins Sr.

Hollins Sr. was the founding pastor of All Nations Church of God in Christ church in Oak Park for over 47 years, according to Hollins Jr. The Itasker Hollins Community Economic Development Corporation was formed in 2003 and was designed to tackle issues of at-risk children, elders in need and housing. 

Hollins Jr. said housing is a huge dilemma but in the Oak Park area and 39th and Broadway is a way for the long-term residents to have a safe and nice place to live. He said living in affordable housing in Oak Park increases the quality of life of the seniors and it keeps them in the area where they’re familiar.

SHRA is the housing authority for both the city of Sacramento and the county of Sacramento that runs the public housing program. In addition to that, SHRA is also involved with housing policy, and they’ve helped finance projects such as 39th street and Broadway, with other private developers to create affordable housing as well.

La Shelle Dozier, SHRA’s executive director, said 39th and Broadway will serve residents earning anywhere from 30% to 60% of the area median income. 

“So let’s look at a one person household with the maximum income at 30% would be anyone making $22,550 or less. And then 50% is 37,500 and 60%, which is at the top, it would be under $45,060,” said Dozier. “So that gives you an idea.”

Additionally, she said, individuals who are formerly unhoused seniors will receive housing vouchers to live in the complex.

Dozier said senior housing is important because SHRA recognized that there are many seniors who are aging in place and need to move into more of an apartment situation — but Oak Park does not have a lot of senior housing available. So seniors were leaving the neighborhood to secure housing. 

“We felt it was very important for them to continue to live in the neighborhoods that they had invested so much of their time and energy in,” Dozier said. “And so that’s really why we started to look at bringing the senior housing to Oak Park.”

Dozier said setting aside the 12 units for seniors who are formerly homeless, is an important initiative for the city of Sacramento to deal with homelessness. 

“This is another opportunity for us to create those units that will help those needy seniors who, unfortunately, have fallen into a situation where they’re unhoused, secure housing.,” said Dozier. 

Dialing 211 is the way that homeless individuals can begin the process of accessing housing for The Arbors or 39th and Broadway. The senior housing at 39th street and Broadway is expected to be completed early 2025, according to Dozier. 

Dozier said any seniors who might be interested in living at 39th and Broadway need to reach out to John Stewart Company, which is the project manager for The Arbors.

“Individuals who are interested in 39th and Broadway, about six months before the completion of construction, the housing property management will start an interest list that will be used to provide the potential applicants and renters with information, according to Dozier.

This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. Solving Sacramento is supported by funding from the James Irvine Foundation and Solutions Journalism Network. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19. Take our reader survey.