Location: French Camp, California

Type: Homeless Veterans

Units: 48

Status: Completed

Victory Gardens is DFA’s first housing project for homeless veterans. DFA partnered with the Housing Authority County of San Joaquin to secure financing from State Veteran Housing and Homelessness Prevention (VHHP) funds and Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The VHHP funds covered $6.8 million of the costs. This is the first time in the history of the VHHP program that a San Joaquin County project has been awarded. The development was also awarded $19.6 million in federal tax credits. 

The San Joaquin county board of supervisors adopted the goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2025 and Victory Gardens is set to be an influential factor in achieving this goal. The $27 million development was built on 4.7 acres of County-owned land in French Camp, near San Joaquin General Hospital. Victory Gardens includes 49 units of deeply affordable housing, in addition to amenities such as a community garden, a common area for socializing, and a computer room with high-speed internet there are 41 one-bedroom units and 7 two-bedroom units between 500 and 700 square feet in size. Located near San Joaquin General Hospital, public transportation, and with the regional Veterans Administration Community Based Outpatient Clinic currently under construction nearby, Victory Gardens aims to improve the quality of life for homeless veterans who have struggled with issues of mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness since leaving military service. Victory Gardens vastly improves access to housing and healthcare for our most vulnerable former service members by bringing these essential services together in one location. 

In addition to the donated land, VHHP funds, and tax credits, the project has received Community Development Block Grant, California Emergency Shelter Housing funds (CESH), and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds from the County. The Housing Authority will also contribute rental assistance funds through a HUD-VASH program, a form of Section 8 Housing Choice Project Based Vouchers specifically for veterans. 

“On any given night in San Joaquin County, there are around 140 homeless veterans living in shelters and on the streets,” stated HACSJ Executive Director Peter Ragsdale. “With the construction of the new VA Clinic, this is not only the right time to aggressively pursue funding to house our homeless vets, but also the right location. The combination of affordable housing and adjacent quality healthcare will make Victory Gardens a success for these deserving heroes.”

Build / Funding

Victory Gardens has received $19.6M in Low Income Housing Tax Credits and $6.8M in Veteran Housing and Homelessness Prevention (VHHP) funds. Other funding includes a ground lease from San Joaquin County (SJC), SJC HOME funds, and California Emergency Shelter Housing funds (CESH).

In addition, HACSJ will contribute rental assistance funds through HUD-VASH and Housing Choice Project Based Vouchers.