Sacramento officials celebrated two major milestones in the City’s ongoing efforts to expand housing access and supportive care for vulnerable populations: the addition of a 200-unit affordable housing community and the opening of a first-of-its-kind hospice for terminally ill people experiencing homelessness.
The Heights on Stockton
Developed by Mercy Housing California, The Heights on Stockton (5200 Prickly Pear Avenue) sits on an eight-acre site near Stockton Boulevard. The site, once occupied by a vacant furniture store, gas station and car wash, has been redeveloped into a vibrant residential community offering 200 affordable apartments.
“This is more than a ribbon-cutting,” said Mayor Kevin McCarty. “It’s a celebration of progress—of reclaiming a long-vacant, blighted lot and transforming it into a vibrant, inclusive place that dozens of Sacramento families will now call home.”
The City contributed $10 million in loans to support construction, using funds from the City’s General Fund and Measure U. The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) provided an additional $5 million in loans, including $4 million from the Housing Trust Fund and $1 million from the Mixed Income Housing Fund. The City also supported the project through its streamlined approvals process, which aims to reduce barriers to building multifamily housing.
“I made a commitment 10 years ago to do something different along Stockton Boulevard as we move into the future,” said Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra, who represents the district. “We’ve built a place that connects the residents to local transit, a walkable school, supports local businesses, but more importantly gives people the opportunity to have a real shot at making a better life for themselves in Sacramento.”
The community features 47 one-bedroom, 95 two-bedroom and 58 three-bedroom apartments for low-income households earning between 30% and 70% of Sacramento County’s area median income. Amenities include electric vehicle charging stations, a large community center with kitchen, resident services, an outdoor play area and on-site laundry facilities.
The Heights on Stockton is accepting applications for all apartments sizes and will offer units to new tenants as they become available. Applications are available online through Mercy Housing’s website.
Joshua’s House Hospice
Sacramento officials also marked the opening of Joshua’s House Hospice, a residential hospice facility that provides end-of-life care for people experiencing homelessness. It is the first facility of its kind on the West Coast and one of only a handful in the nation.
The facility will provide medical care, comfort and dignity to up to 15 residents at a time. Established in response to the rising number of unhoused individuals dying without support, Joshua’s House honors the memory of the founder’s grandson, Joshua, who died alone while living unhoused.
Joshua’s House was identified as a key initiative and approved by the Sacramento City Council in August 2021. The City provided $450,500 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the construction of the project and is leasing the property at no-cost for the project.
The project was made possible through more than $3.5 million in funding, raised through a combination of public funding from the City and County of Sacramento, individual donations, private partnerships and philanthropic support.
Together, these two projects reflect Sacramento’s comprehensive approach to creating a city where residents have access to safe, dignified places to call home.
