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Politics & Government

City Flooded with Applicants for Low-Income Senior Housing

Valley Vista, an affordable housing complex for senior citizens, is under construction.

The city said it's ahead of schedule on a housing project for senior citizens.

Valley Vista is an affordable housing development for low-income seniors in San Ramon. American Baptist Homes of the West and Satellite Housing are building the 104-unit complex.

Valley Vista was supposed to be finished in June 2011 but is now on target for completion in May, barring any delays, according to San Ramon Housing Programs Manager Brooke Harris.

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She said that the project, located on the "Church on the Hill" property adjacent to Forest Homes Park on San Ramon Valley Boulevard, was created in response to a housing analysis showing that a disproportionate amount of seniors lived with families because of high rents in San Ramon.

Even rents for low-income housing in San Ramon are high, with a single-bedroom Section 8 unit going for about $800 a month, said Harris.

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The data also showed that because of high rent and living costs, even if some San Ramon seniors are living on their own, most of them are having a hard time getting by.

"Some of the seniors are very elderly and operating on less than $1,000 a month," said Harris. "And paying that kind of rent means that for them it might come down to having to make a choice between paying rent or paying for medicine or food."

That, she said, is where Valley Vista comes in.

Its units are for people 62 or older with a certifiable income of about $31,000 for a one-person household and $36,150 for a two-person household.

Instead of rent being based on the area's median household income, like other affordable housing, Valley Vista residents will not pay more than 30 percent of their income for rent, regardless of how their income or the area's median income changes. For example, if a senior receives $1,200 in Social Security income a month, he or she would pay $400 a month to live at Valley Vista.

One issue Valley Vista is facing is that the low rent prices are attracting more applicants than there are units available.

To date, 300 applicants are on a waiting list for the 104 units.

The applications have come from residents of San Ramon and beyond, Harris said, adding that she expects Valley Vista renters to be chosen by a lottery.

The city will hold three workshops before Valley Vista is completed to provide information about the project and how to apply.

The first workshop will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 7 at the , 9300 Alcosta Blvd., in Room 112 A/B.

The second workshop will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 15 in the 's Fountain Room on 12501 Alcosta Blvd.

The final workshop will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 in the West Meeting Room at the , 17011 Bollinger Canyon Road.

The city will mail this information to every San Ramon resident by the end of January, Harris said.

Those interested in renting at Valley Vista who do not want to attend the workshops can contact the city after Jan. 7 and have an application mailed to them by calling 925-973-2579.

American Baptist Homes also will send applications to those who call 800-635-2558 and request them.

Harris said applications are due by early March.

After the screening process, a lottery will take place to determine who will get one of the units. Harris said that the lottery is yet to be scheduled but applicants will be notified. She also said that they're planning to keep those applicants who don't initially win a place at Valley Vista on a waiting list.

For more information about Valley Vista, call Harris at 925-973-2573 or go to www.abhow.com.

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