Norwalk breaks ground on affordable housing for veterans

NORWALK – The City of Norwalk, in partnership with Mercy Housing California, held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for Veterans Villas at San Antonio, a new $3 million affordable housing project for veterans.

The Villas will be a four-story, 60-unit, affordable residential apartment development with support services.

Once constructed, the veteran residential units will serve extremely low, very low, and low-income households and provide them with an affordable, quality residential development.

Veterans Villas is located at 13601 San Antonio Dr.

“This is the first veteran housing project in the Gateway Cities region and the City of Norwalk is honored to do its part to curb veteran homelessness,” said Mayor Rick Ramirez. “The city will continue to support veterans and the construction of this veteran housing project will help homeless veterans off the streets and get them much needed help.”

The Norwalk City Council adopted an ordinance Feb. 4, 2020 that approved a development agreement with Mercy Housing, a non-profit housing corporation that develops and operates affordable housing units.

Mercy Housing will provide long-term supportive services to veterans and their families who live in the development.

“It’s fully within California’s reach to end veteran homelessness in our lifetime, and this kind of partnership shows exactly how we make it happen,” said Ed Holder, vice president of real estate development for Mercy Housing. “We’re deeply grateful to the City of Norwalk for its tremendous commitment to supporting veterans in leading stable, dignified lives.”

The City Council passed a resolution Aug. 17, 2021 that authorized an amendment to its fiscal budget to receive $3 million in state funds to support homelessness and affordable housing in Norwalk.

State Sen. Bob Archuleta and Assemblymember Lisa Calderon petitioned to have this funding earmarked to Norwalk for homelessness and affordable housing in the 2021 state budget.