Join FCH for the Grand Opening of Leigh Avenue Senior Apartments, 64 units of affordable senior apartments reserved for chronically homeless seniors. Speakers for the event will include:
Mayor Sam Liccardo, City of San José • Senator Dave Cortese
Leigh Avenue Residents • Supervisor Cindy Chavez
Supervisor Susan Ellenberg • Councilmember Dev Davis
Rachel VanderVeen, Deputy Director, Housing Dept. City of San José
Preston Prince, Executive Director, SCC Housing Authority
Noni Ramos, Chief Executive Officer, Housing Trust Silicon Valley
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Masks are required to join the event.
- Please park on the street in designated areas, in the shopping center lot across the street, or in the parking garage. No parking at the businesses next door, please.
- Dress code is business casual.
- Refreshments will be served!
Project Overview
Leigh Avenue Senior Apartments is transit-oriented infill project located at 1690 Southwest Expressway, where Leigh Avenue and Southeast Expressway intersect. First Community Housing built 64 units of affordable senior apartments over 6,750 square feet of commercial space. All units are reserved for chronically homeless seniors, with one two-bedroom manager’s unit.
The building is four stories, with a first floor concrete podium and 3 stories of wood frame construction above. Parking and commercial spaces are located at the ground level with residential units on the upper floors. Most of the units have private balconies and all are served by elevators. Common areas include the Property Manager, Social Service Coordinator, and Case Manager’s offices, centralized laundry facility, multiple community rooms and lounge areas, a large outdoor community courtyard at the podium level, community gardens and living roof, dog wash station, and computer lab.
As with other FCH new construction projects, the building was designed to achieve LEED Platinum designation. In addition, Leigh Ave. Senior Apartments is a pilot project for the Healthy Building Network’s HomeFree Initiative, whose goal is to improve the health of residents in affordable housing through the use of less toxic building materials. The project is located within 1,550 feet of a light rail station and all households receive a free, annual VTA SmartPass providing free bus and light rail throughout Santa Clara County.
Property Management & Supportive Services
The John Stewart Company (JSCo) provides property management services, and Abode Services provides intensive case management for the 63 formerly homeless households.
The Leigh Avenue Senior Apartments’ resident service coordination program provides a wide array of services to its senior residents, most of which are accessed on an as-needed basis. Services include needs assessment, follow up reassessment, information referral for community and direct services, and social and recreational activities.
The case management services provided by Abode Services will adhere to the best practices for a permanent supportive housing community, including Housing First and Harm Reduction, and will foster residents’ housing stability and wellness. Services will include housing retention services; clinical case management; benefits advocacy and income support assistance; money management; nutritional counseling; community building; and assistance in obtaining other resources and support for residents such as child care, transportation, job training and job placement. Abode Services has more than 25 years of experience in offering supportive services to homeless and formerly homeless households.
WAITLIST INFO 2021: This development is entirely reserved for chronically homeless seniors. The households who are referred for the units will be selected by the County of Santa Clara, and the SCC Housing Authority. If you are homeless or are looking for supportive housing, please work with your case manager to inquire about housing.