Local, state and federal leaders joined developers and service providers April 9 in Rancho Cordova to launch Phase IV of the project. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of the next phase of Mather Veterans Village, expanding housing and services for homeless and disabled veterans in Sacramento County.

Local, state and federal leaders, including U.S. Rep. Ami Bera, joined developers and service providers April 9 in Rancho Cordova to launch Phase IV of the project, which will add 70 permanent supportive housing units for senior veterans.

“America’s commitment to our veterans must last a lifetime,” Bera said. “Today’s groundbreaking is an important step forward in honoring that commitment to our veterans and ensuring that they have access to the support and stability they deserve.”

The three-story, all-electric building will be constructed across from earlier phases of the campus and is expected to open in August 2027. Designed in a C-shape, the project aims to promote natural light and community connection while expanding a campus more than 15 years in the making.

Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume said the development reflects a broader effort to address housing instability. Photo courtesy of Sacramento County

Mather Veterans Village sits on land that was once part of Mather Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in 1993 and later redeveloped for housing, services and public facilities.

The project is the Sacramento region’s first dedicated affordable housing community for veterans who have experienced homelessness. Earlier phases have delivered a total of 160 units, including 100 permanent supportive housing units developed by Mercy Housing California in Phases I and III, which opened in 2016 and 2019, and 60 transitional units developed by Veterans Housing Development Corporation in Phase II, completed in 2020.

A fifth phase, which would add 60 units for veteran families, is in early design and financing.

“Mather Veterans Village reflects what is possible when committed partners stand together in service of veterans,” said Tiffany Bohee, president of Mercy Housing California.

Once all phases are complete, the broader Mather redevelopment, which includes a VA medical center and other public facilities, is expected to serve more than 5,000 veterans through housing, health care and support services.

“Providing new apartment homes for homeless and disabled veterans has been a point of pride for our city,” Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood said. “This is making a real measurable difference in the lives of those who have served our country.”

The project is backed by a mix of public funding, including $31.5 million from the state’s Homekey+ program, $3 million from Sacramento County facilitated by Supervisors Pat Hume and Phil Serna and $1 million in federal funds secured by Bera. The city of Rancho Cordova donated the land.

Sacramento County supervisors said the development reflects a broader effort to address housing instability.

“This project is a vital step toward addressing housing insecurity,” Supervisor Pat Hume said. “We are turning a shared vision into a lasting community asset.”

Mather Veterans Village sits on land that was once part of Mather Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in 1993 and later redeveloped for housing, services and public facilities. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

Supervisor Phil Serna emphasized the importance of long-term investment in supportive housing, calling the project “a commitment to stability and dignity for veterans.”

Nation’s Finest will provide on-site services for residents, including case management, counseling, health care navigation and employment support, while Mercy Housing California will manage the property.

“When we talk about Mather, we should celebrate its compounding effects,” said Chris Flaherty, CEO of Nation’s Finest. “Mather Veterans Village represents more than housing. It represents stability, dignity and opportunity for veterans to rebuild their lives with the support they deserve. It should be a model to emulate because it tangibly shows what is possible when communities and organizations, public and private, come together to invest in veterans.”

Veterans remain disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness, and local leaders said the additional housing will help address that need.

Construction is now underway.