Community Development Partners Opens Archways Santa Ana, an 85-unit Affordable Community
March 13, 2025
Development addresses the need for affordable housing for low-income families and supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness or mental illness
SANTA ANA, Calif., March 12, 2025 — Low-income residents have a new place to call home at Archways Santa Ana, a community of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments providing affordable housing for low-income tenants and supportive people experiencing mental illness or homelessness. Mercy House, along with Telecare Home First, will provide on-site resident services from wellness to adult education, as well as case management.
Most of the units are allocated to tenants earning 30 percent or less of the area’s median income, with others available to tenants earning up to 60 percent of the AMI. With a variety of three- and four-bedroom units, Archways Santa Ana is specifically designed to ease the area’s scarcity of affordable housing for larger families.
Public officials and housing leaders gathered Wednesday in the 2500 block of Westminster Avenue to formally open the development, which is fully leased and occupied.
“The Orange County Housing Finance Trust is pleased to fund this important affordable and supportive housing project that will serve the needs of both large families and individuals,” said County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento. “Infill development, along transportation corridors, is critical to meeting our county’s housing goals and providing needed amenities and diverse types of housing units to meet the needs of our residents. I am especially happy to have the project include units for very low-income residents, for some of our most vulnerable community members.”
“Archways Santa Ana represents a new beginning for low-income families and individuals experiencing mental illness or homelessness,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. “By providing affordable housing alongside critical support services, we are helping to build stronger, more resilient communities. The City of Santa Ana was proud to support Archways with $3.9 million in loan agreements, as we continue to lead Orange County in the creation of new affordable housing. This project is a vital step toward addressing the housing crisis.”
“The city needs affordable housing. It also has sought more ways to reach people who have been living on the margins,” said Kyle Paine, president of Community Development Partners. “We are pleased to help fill those needs with Archways Santa Ana.”
Residents who call Archways Santa Ana home can access a range of services intended to help them transition to permanent housing. The built-in support is meant to help residents not just occupy an apartment, but thrive in connection with social service providers and their fellow tenants.
“Housing works, housing ends homelessness. But, ending homelessness is just the start,” said Larry Haynes, CEO of Mercy House. “So, we will be there, every day, providing full wrap-around services and perhaps most importantly, befriending people who feel they have been abandoned. Every day we will be there, reminding people that they are fully human.”
Archways Santa Ana was built on an empty lot by the development team. The two connected buildings were designed by City Fabrick of Long Beach and Architecture Design Collaborative of Laguna Hills. They were built by Walton Construction of Dimas, a family-owned company that specializes in affordable housing.
In addition to its apartment units, Archways Santa Ana features a community room with computer stations, outdoor picnic and barbecue areas with walking paths and a playground and rooftop decks. It is close to a bus stop, the future OC Streetcar, stores, trails and parks.
Mercy House, which has collaborated with Community Development Partners on multiple projects throughout Southern California, delivers an array of services in support of its mission to help people end the cycle of homelessness. It helps residents navigate government support services and provides classes focused on adult education, health and wellness, and skill building. Telecare Home First offers case management and complementary services, including art therapy, budgeting classes and empowerment groups. Through the Orange County Health Care Agency, Telecare also offers clinical support, including nurses who visit the site as needed. Mercy House and Telecare coordinate to arrange groups and group activities.
Funding for the $55 million project includes tax-exempt bond financing, 4 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits, a Section 8 HAP contract administered through the City of Santa Ana Housing Authority, and funds from the City of Santa Ana, Orange County Housing Finance Trust, California Department of Housing and Community Development’s NPLH program, along with Mental Health Services Act funds from the County of Orange.
###
About Community Development Partners
Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long term community engagement and innovative design. As a mission-driven, forward-thinking organization, CDP is focused exclusively on creating vibrant affordable housing communities that incorporate art, public parks, gardens, fresh food, and cultural and social programming. Today, CDP has built, preserved or is actively developing over 55 unique projects comprising 4,800+ affordable homes throughout Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. It is a certified B Corporation.
