43-unit housing project for homeless youth coming to San Jose

Construction is underway on a supportive housing project in San Jose to provide stable homes for more than three dozen young adults who are homeless or leaving the foster care system across the South Bay.

The former Pavilion Inn at 1280 North Fourth St. will be converted to 43 studio and one-bedroom apartments. It’s set to open by next summer. The site will offer residents wraparound services, including mental health care and job counseling.

“Providing these young people a lifeline to housing and services now is an investment not only in their future, but in the future health of our own community,” Laura Archuleta, executive director of project developer Jamboree Housing, said in a statement.

An estimated 764 children and young adults are homeless in Santa Clara County, according to the most recent count early this year.

Buying and redeveloping the motel is expected to cost around $32 million. That comes to about $744,000 for each unit, less than the typical $938,000 per-unit price tag for building affordable housing in San Jose, according to a recent city report detailing the city’s ongoing development challenges.

The city and Santa Clara County are putting about $17 million toward redevelopment, with the other $15 coming from the state’s Homekey homeless housing program. The county Housing Authority will also supply federal housing vouchers to cover most rent for at least 21 residents.

The Pavilion Inn site is one of at least six in San Jose to win a state grant from the $3.75 billion Homekey program that started during the pandemic.

The city has already helped open three Homekey sites at converted motels at 2188 The Alameda, 817 The Alameda and 1488 North First St. Two other projects are in the works at 455 South Second St. and the intersection of Branham Lane and Monterey Road.