Manteca is officially joining the effort to secure state funds to help homeless veterans.
The City Council agreed Tuesday to serve as the lead applicant with The WellNest Group in a bid to secure a California Department of Housing and Community Development Homekey grant of up to $5 million.
If the funds are awarded, the city would carry out all actions required to accept and administer the funds.
The effort also involves The Way Church, and Keystone Housing Foundation.
The Way Veterans Village is proposed for an under used parking lot the church owns on the northeast corner of Roosvelt Avenue and North Street.
It will consist of 12 to 15 small modular homes.
They are designed to be fully accessible for mobility, hearing, and vision disabilities.
The site has existing infrastructure connections and will be improved with grading, utility hookups, pathways, green space, and drought-tolerant landscaping.
According to City of Manteca Homeless & Housing Services Manager Vielka Guarascio, the design encourages neighborhood interaction while ensuring privacy, incorporates sustainable stormwater management practices, and provides safe, energy-efficient lighting.
Keystone Housing Foundation will serve as both Program Manager and Master Leaseholder, overseeing housing for 12 or more veterans.
Residents will qualify for subsidized rents at 30% of the area median income with additional rental assistance provided through local partners to ensure affordability within federal Housing and Urban Development limits.
limits.
In a memo to the council, Guarascio noted the site offers close access to essential services, including grocery stores, public transportation, and four nearby medical facilities within a half-mile radius, such as the Delta Vet Center, a dedicated Veterans Administration provider for veterans and their families. The combination of affordable housing and proximity to supportive services advances the program’s core goal: ensuring that veterans, regardless of income status, have access to stable, long-term housing.
As new construction, The Way Veterans Village will not result in any displacement or relocation of participants.
The program is designed to serve veterans currently experiencing homelessness, as well as those at risk, including individuals who are underhoused, unsuitably housed, or facing eviction.
The project cost is pegged at $3.7 million with a project net annual income for operations and maintenance estimated at $214,000.
There is no obligation or risk to the city’s general fund.
If the grant application is not approved, the WellNest Group, The Way, and Keystone Housing Foundation will be responsible for pursuing alternative funding sources, and no fiscal obligation will be incurred by the City of Manteca.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
