New housing development in Milpitas has 102 affordable units

Half the residents are transitioning out of homelessness.

A former industrial site in Milpitas is now home to 102 new apartments for families and households transitioning out of homelessness.

Residents and officials celebrated the grand opening of Sango Court, an affordable housing development located within half a mile of the Milpitas BART station, on Wednesday, July 17. The event was hosted by Resources for Community Development (RCD), a nonprofit that leverages both private and public financing and funding to create affordable housing.

The five-story building is part of a larger planned transformation of the area from a light industrial zone into a mixed-use residential neighborhood.

“Half of Sango Court’s residents are transitioning out of homelessness,” RCD Senior Project Manager Nicole Brown told those assembled in one of the development’s sunny courtyards. “We’re proud to support these households residing in the County of Santa Clara, where there are a lot of job opportunities but steeply rising housing costs.”

Angelique Chisolm, a resident of Sango Court, shared her experience of being unhoused for about 10 years. “I was living out of vehicle or couch surfing wherever I was welcomed, and it was rough and demeaning,” said Chisolm, a single mother. “I was then offered housing, and I was at a loss for words because I didn’t expect to be offered permanent housing as such a low point in my life, and I have been extremely grateful for this opportunity.”

The development has on-site supportive services and property management and includes a community room with a full kitchen and multiple landscaped courtyards. The all-electric building incorporates green construction methods and renewable technologies.

“This new community in Milpitas will transform the lives of the neighbors that now have a safe, dignified home that they can be proud of,” said Noni Ramos, CEO of Housing Trust Silicon Valley.

“Sango Court epitomizes the promise of what county leaders envisioned for Measure A, the $950 million affordable housing bond passed by voters in 2016,” said Wendy Ho of Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee’s office. “With the opening of Sango Court, we are on track to exceed our affordable housing goals, with nearly 5,000 deeply affordable housing units constructed or in the pipeline in 10 of the cities of Santa Clara County, extending as far as south Gilroy to as far north as Palo Alto.”

Dan Sawislak, executive director of RCD, cited the project’s numerous supporters, saying, “A tremendous amount of collaboration and support with several partners made this development possible, and we deeply appreciate all of our project funders and partners.”

Following the presentations, Mayor Carmen Montano as the grand opening ribbon, and Brown led attendees on a tour of the property.