Mayor London N. Breed today announced the groundbreaking of a new housing complex at Mission Bay Block 9 (Block 9), a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development in the heart of Mission Bay. Once complete in late 2021, the building will add 140 homes to San Francisco’s PSH portfolio, as well as a community garden open to residents and members of the larger Mission Bay community.
“As San Francisco recovers from COVID-19, it is critical that we create and acquire new Permanent Supportive Housing so we have stable, secure homes for people in need,” said Mayor Breed. “That’s why we created our Homelessness Recovery Plan and why we funded projects like Block 9, which not only create new homes for formerly homeless residents, but also creates new construction jobs to help get our economy back on track.”
The development advances the City’s strategy for economic recovery, which is centered in stimulating new job creation and investing in infrastructure that ensures San Francisco’s post-COVID-19 economy emerges more equitable and resilient than before. Pursuing the development of 140 units of new affordable housing for San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents makes progress on several recommendations made by the Economic Recovery Task Force and illustrates the City’s efforts to retain and support its residents. Block 9 is part of Mayor Breed’s Homelessness Recovery Plan, which will expand capacity in the City’s Homelessness Response System and make 6,000 placements available for people experiencing homelessness over the next two years.
Block 9 is located within the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area under the jurisdiction of the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII), the former San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. The site has been designated as an “Agency Affordable Housing Parcel” and is part of the OCII’s efforts to revitalize underutilized land.
“This housing project is not only going to give 140 people formerly experiencing homelessness a safe and stable place to call home, it’s also going to enrich our Mission Bay community,” said Supervisor Matt Haney. “Mission Bay is a wonderful place to build a community that is for everyone in our city.”
The Mission Bay Project Area has seen many uses in its past, from warehouses and industrial facilities to the former Southern Pacific Railyard. Today it is one of San Francisco’s newest mixed-use, transit-oriented developments, and upon completion will have approximately 6,500 housing units, of which 1,900 are affordable. The Mission Bay project is anticipated to wrap up over the next five to ten years and result in the construction of more than $700 million of new infrastructure, over $8 billion in private vertical development, and the creation of more than 30,000 permanent jobs.
“We know that housing is the solution to homelessness,” said Abigail Stewart-Kahn, Interim Director, San Francisco Department of Housing and Supportive Housing. “Permanent Supportive Housing is a critical component of the Mayor’s Homelessness Recovery Plan and the key to eradicating chronic homelessness in our community.”
“OCII strives to create inclusive neighborhoods that provide opportunities for individuals and families of all backgrounds and income levels,” said Nadia Sesay, Executive Director, OCII. “Block 9 is an important addition to the diverse and growing Mission Bay community. In addition to providing urgently-needed homes and supportive services, the project has been beautifully designed to facilitate connections among residents and neighbors. OCII looks forward to welcoming residents to Block 9 next year.”
Block 9 is a collaborative partnership between OCII, the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), BRIDGE Housing, Community Housing Partnership (CHP), and HealthRight 360. The development is employing factory-built housing unit construction in an effort to expedite the delivery of housing for formerly homeless individuals, and one of several City sponsored projects that is part of a factory-built housing pilot program.
“Community Housing Partnership is proud to be a partner with the City and BRIDGE Housing to create 140 permanent homes for people who have been experiencing homelessness,” said Rick Aubry, CEO of Community Housing Partnership. “By providing a stable place to live coupled with high quality supportive services, we can help people rebuild their lives, become self-sufficient and break the cycle of homelessness.”
“Right now, it’s more important than ever for our most vulnerable neighbors to have a stable, affordable place to live,” said Cynthia Parker, President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing. “We're excited to see the building rise quickly with modular construction, and we're proud to partner on these new apartments that will end homelessness for many San Franciscans.”
Major financing for Block 9 was provided by a $37.2 million investment from OCII that enabled the $86.7 million project to move forward, as well as a state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity and a loan from the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing program. The units will be supported through a City-funded Local Operating Subsidy Program contract and homeless applicants will be referred to the development through the HSH Coordinated Entry System.
