A new development is among the first in the nation to combine affordable housing with a city hall.
Salida del Sol is a partnership between nonprofit developer Jamboree Housing Corp. and the city of San Juan Capistrano, California.
Located on a 2.22-acre portion of San Juan Capistrano’s city hall site, the 50-unit Salida del Sol is designed around a large open courtyard with a 45,593-square-foot residential building. Forty units are designated for formerly unhoused individuals and veterans earning up to 30% of the area median income (AMI) and nine additional units for households earning up to 50% of the AMI. Of the units designated for those coming from homelessness, 24 are set aside for those living with a mental health diagnosis who are referred by participating agencies.
The 40 households with project-based vouchers or Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers will pay rent based on 30% of their income, not to exceed $887 to $1,479 per month, depending on unit size.
In front of the residential courtyard and community garden is a new city hall, which replaces a 50-year-old temporary structure.
The integration of housing in close proximity to city officials is part of the partnership’s effort to normalize support services within the urban civic context, closing gaps and strengthening community ties between vulnerable populations and middle- and upper-income households, according to project leaders, who recently celebrated the project’s grand opening.
“Salida del Sol represents the very best of what can be achieved through partnership,” said mayor Troy Bourne. “By working side by side with Jamboree, the San Juan Capistrano City Council has advanced its goals of reducing homelessness and expanding affordable housing while also providing our community with a new city hall. Salida del Sol is a model for what local government and nonprofit collaboration can deliver, and I hope other cities will follow San Juan Capistrano’s example by bringing similar developments into their own communities.”
Permanent supportive housing residents have access to Salida del Sol’s wraparound services coordinated by Jamboree’s community impact team, which are delivered in a trauma-informed, harm-reduction environment tailored to the unique needs of each individual. This includes medication management assistance, mental health counseling, life skills education, and opportunities for social connections and meaningful activities that will help them thrive in their local neighborhood.
Services are provided by organizations such as Telecare Home First Central, the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Full Service Partnership, and Orange County’s VASH team.
“Jamboree’s vision is more than building housing,” said Laura Archuleta, president and CEO of Jamboree Housing. “We look for ways to help cities meet multiple goals at once. With Salida del Sol, we delivered high-quality affordable housing, services that transform lives, and a beautiful city hall on the same site, proving that good partnerships can turn civic challenges into solutions that benefit the entire community.”
The total development cost for the residential development is about $30.75 million. Bank of America is a major partner, providing $17.1 million in 9% low-income housing tax credit equity, $19.6 million in construction financing, and $5.3 million in permanent financing.
Other funding partners include the city of San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, Orange County Housing Authority, Orange County Housing Finance Trust, California Energy Commission, and The Home Depot Foundation.
Project partners also include Architecture Design Collaborative, general contractor Quality Design and Construction, interior designer Dahlin, landscape architect EPTDESIGN, and property manager Quality Management Group.