The Orchard

SANTA ANA, CA

Goal: Create a cutting-edge Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project that sets a new standard in Orange County by serving as a model for a holistic approach to addressing the region’s homelessness crisis.

Located just outside downtown Santa Ana, The Orchard is one of CDP’s adaptive reuse and rehabilitation projects, designed to serve Santa Ana’s chronically homeless population. Formerly the Guest Inn and Suites motel, this 72-unit permanent supportive housing community is thoughtfully designed to foster resident engagement through communal activities and long-term case management opportunities.

With all units dedicated to PSH, The Orchard features studio and one-bedroom apartments focused on promoting independent, successful living as part of the mission to end homelessness in Orange County. The community features thoughtfully curated spaces, including a dining hall with a fully equipped commercial kitchen, a large community garden with garden boxes, picnic tables, and a community learning space. Additionally, an outdoor courtyard with communal tables and an outdoor kitchen provides residents with opportunities to connect and thrive.

A cornerstone of CDP’s projects is the partnerships with organizations that deliver vital services to residents. At The Orchard, the Santa Ana-based nonprofit Mercy House leads resident services and programming. Their offerings include case management, referrals, and resources aimed at ensuring a successful transition from homelessness to permanent housing for all residents.

DEVELOPMENT

The Orchard was brought to life after several years of meticulous entitlement and financing efforts, supported by the City of Santa Ana, the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), and Mercy House. Despite obstacles that come along with adaptive reuse and rehabilitation, CDP successfully delivered a transformative Permanent Supportive Housing community that meets the critical needs of Santa Ana’s most vulnerable residents.

DATA
  • Completion Date: 2017
  • Total Development Cost: $26.9M
  • Affordability: 30% AMI & Below
  • Total Units: 72
  • Unit Mix: 58 0BD, 14 1BD
  • Sustainability: Green Point Rated
TEAM
  • Developer: CDP & Mercy House
  • Architect: Egan Simon
  • Contractor: Ashwood Construction Co.
  • Property Management: FPI Management
  • Resident Services Partner: Mercy House & Telecare
WEBSITE

PARTNERS

CDP is proud to partner with these organizations, dedicated to bettering the lives not only of The Orchard’s residents, but of those lower-income residents in surrounding communities.

Mercy House

Mercy House was founded by Father Jerome T. Karcher with a vision to serve the local homeless and at-risk communities. Since beginning services in 1990, Mercy House has grown from a single transitional housing program to a complete system of care designed to span the spectrum of services. These range from outreach and homeless prevention programs to emergency shelters and permanent housing, which incorporates both Housing First projects serving chronically homeless populations and affordable housing serving very low to low-income populations. On an annual basis, Mercy House programs and services touch the lives of over 7,000 adults and children across Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and Kern Counties in California as well as Maricopa County, Arizona. Their growth over our 30-year tenure has been tied to clarity of vision and purpose, always bearing in mind the organization’s ultimate goal: to end the homelessness of all who enter their unique system of care.

Telecare

Founded in 1965, Telecare  serves the community with the mission to deliver excellent and effective behavioral health services that engage individuals with complex needs in recovering their health, hopes, and dreams. Telecare has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of the people it serves, yet its core mission remains unchanged: providing exceptional care for individuals with serious mental illness and supporting them in realizing their full potential.

California Culinary Coalition

The California Culinary Coalition (CCC) was founded on the principle that everyone deserves to be fed daily. More than this, they deserve to eat well and enjoy a nutritious meal. CCC also believes that those who seek education and want to learn, must. Those who seek opportunity, will find. CCC’s goal is to provide healthy meals to those in need and to educate those who want to learn.

Santa Ana Housing Authority

The Santa Ana Housing Authority serves Orange County with a mission to provide affordable housing for the community’s most vulnerable members, empowering them to achieve self-sufficiency and independence from housing assistance.

Faces of Santa Ana

Led by founder Brian Peterson, Faces of Santa Ana is a passion project where he set out to befriend and paint portraits of the homeless community in Santa Ana, CA. He then sells the artwork and uses proceeds to help in rehabilitating his newfound friends. The mission of Faces of Santa Ana is to locally help those in need in cities around the world while also inspiring and activating creatives and supporters of the movement. Brian believes that the creativity he’s been given is meant for the outward pouring of love. Brian, along with fellow artist Damin Luja, painted an incredible 3,000ft2 mural on the back and side of The Orchard building composed of resident’s faces and elements gleaned from interviews with each of them.