Project Overview

Paul’s Place at 1111 H Street in Davis, California, is a local approach to solving a national challenge. Like many communities statewide and across the country, the City of Davis is facing a homeless crisis.

In our community, business and community leaders, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, and City and County officials came together to collaboratively meet the challenge. Our hope is that our model will be replicated by others.

The Need

  • Every night, some 190 people barely eke out an existence, living homeless in Davis.
  • Every year, some 900 homeless or extremely low-income people visit Davis Community Meals & Housing’s H Street Resource Center for critical services.
  • Homelessness is a demoralizing, traumatic and hostile existence – for both individuals who are homeless and the caring community in which they live.
  • This nationwide crisis will only be solved community by community, when local people of good will work together to effect meaningful change.
  • In Davis, area civic, business, community, nonprofit, and faith-based leaders have united to address this growing crisis with dignity, compassion, and efficiency – creating Paul’s Place.

Response

  • Paul’s Place is a unique, vertical, community designed by a local leading architect that will provide critically needed, expanded services and shelter to the most vulnerable.
  • This is a multi-functional structure designed with input from City and County officials, law enforcement, service providers and other members of the community. It is designed to provide a continuum of care and support services that will effectively move people from the streets to stability.
  • The project will provide day services, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive shelter. Paul’s Place includes:
    • 18 300-square-foot private units of permanent supportive micro-housing on two floors, with two units accessible to those with physical disabilities.
      • Permanent supportive housing is affordable housing tied to supportive services, such as ongoing addiction or mental health treatment, case management and help with life skills.
    • 10 single residence units of transitional housing, including a communal kitchen, family room, bathrooms, and laundry.
      • Transitional housing is supportive – yet temporary – shelter that is meant to bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing by offering structure, supervision, and support for addictions and mental health.
    • Four emergency shelter beds.
      • Emergency beds were requested by law enforcement.
    • Enhanced day services including enlarged shower, restroom, and laundry facilities.
    • Expanded access to critical social services, life skills support, job training, and coordinated referrals with other resources and service providers.
    • Important health services and programs to address the unique physical, mental, and emotional health needs of homeless individuals.
    • A welcoming and functional design that supports 24-hour staffing and treats residents with dignity as they transition from the streets to stability.

Proposed Functions and Services

Fourth Floor

  • 9 permanent supportive housing, single-occupant fully-equipped micro-dwelling

Third Floor

  • 9 permanent supportive housing, single-occupant fully-equipped micro-dwelling

Second Floor

  • 10 transitional housing, single-occupant bedrooms
  • 1 shared kitchen, 1 living room, and 1 laundry room
  • 3 full bathrooms (1 ADA) and 2 half-baths
  • 2 staff offices, 1 staff bedroom, and 1 staff half-bath

First Floor

  • Expanded resource center with 4 staff offices, 3 bathrooms (1 ADA), and a larger laundry facility, updated kitchen, and community room
  • 2 emergency shelter, double-occupant bedrooms and 1 3/4-bath

Costs

  • We will deliver Paul’s Place at an overall project cost that is comparable to privately-financed, similar residential construction projects.
  • Even considering the significant additional construction costs brought on by COVID, we will deliver the permanent units at a cost of about $240,000 per unit.
  • Similar recent affordable housing projects have been constructed at a per unit cost of over $400,000.
  • We are constructing Paul’s Place with the greatest care for the dollars committed, many of our team are contributing their time and expertise, including the lead architect and project manager, and our general contractor are waving their profit.

Homelessness is an issue that touches us all. Our residents, parks, greenbelts, schools, neighborhoods, and business centers are facing emotional, economic, and environmental impacts that stem from increased homelessness in our community. By creating a multi-functional building that will provide additional day resources, as well as emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing, we strive to meet the need.