The City of Grass Valley, like many other communities, has a shortage of affordable or workforce housing. This community’s workforce includes teachers, police officers and nurses. These people work in Grass Valley but are unable to buy a home in Grass Valley.

The community of Santa Barbara (population 91,000) has one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. The median single-family home price now tops $1 million. Despite the city’s impressive record on producing affordable housing (12 percent of the housing stock), demand far exceeds supply.

Mabuhay Court Senior Housing is an example of creatively combining apartments and senior services in one location. The apartments include underground parking and are located directly adjacent to the multi-purpose Northside Community Center that was rebuilt to accommodate and blend-in with the new units. A meditation garden preserves the site’s existing oak trees and provides a majestic setting for reflection and relaxation.

With home prices climbing and affordable rentals becoming scarcer in the area, finding affordable housing has become a challenge for many low-income residents, particularly seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes. According to the Census 2000, 11 percent (5,409) of the population in Manteca were over the age of 62. The Manteca city council and redevelopment agency have made it a priority to actively pursue development of affordable housing for the community’s seniors.