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Waverly Place Apartments Provide Supportive Housing
Groundbreaking for 15 new supportive housing units

Article Doris Estremera
Steve Kaplan

The Mental Health Association (MHA) along with San Mateo County officials celebrated the long awaited Waverly Place Apartments groundbreaking on May 9.  The housing development at 105 Fifth Ave, in the North Fair Oaks area of Redwood City includes fifteen supported housing units for individuals with severe mental illness.

Escalating Bay Area construction costs caused a two year delay on the summer 2015 expected groundbreaking but, MHSA remained true to its culture of not giving up on projects and continued fundraising.

“In a County with one of the highest costs of living in the country, ensuring that our clients have safe decent housing is so important and we are all very proud of MHA’s role in making this happen, and we are so very grateful to those who support us in this effort,” wrote Melissa Platte, executive director for MHA.  Waverly Place is funded by a variety of sources including the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and San Mateo County’s Measure K.

The groundbreaking celebration featured individuals living with mental illness that received housing support as they shared their stories of hope, recovery and gratefulness for the support.  Steve Kaplan and Supervisor Warren Slocum also provided remarks.

MHA has built and rehabilitated properties to create homes for people with mental illness since 1946. Supportive housing is community-based housing that is affordable to clients on a permanent basis, provides all the rights and responsibilities of tenancy, and is accompanied by appropriate and voluntary social services.