Homeless population in Merced falling. More affordable housing units coming
Merced currently has over 500 units of affordable housing in different stages of development as the city continues to try to make a dent in the homeless population.
Merced has made strides in reducing the homeless population in the area.
The statistics for the homeless “Point-in-Time Count,” a survey that identifies individuals experiencing homelessness, for 2025 hasn’t been released yet, but Serratto says unofficially the City of Merced is down 12% to an unsheltered population of 200 homeless this year from 224 in 2021.
Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom made it clear he wants cities and counties to crack down on homeless encampments. One of the issues, But when an encampment is dismantled, where do the inhabitants go?
There are temporary solutions, like shelters, and the Merced Navigation Center is available. But offering affordable housing options can help keep people off the street more permanently, official say.
“Housing is a top issue in our town, across the state and across the country,” said Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto. “I’m just proud of the way we’ve been able to step up and contribute to the housing stock.”
In January of 2024, the Twelve Thirteen V Street Housing Project, which was funded through a grant opened up 96 units of housing that targets homeless individuals.
Construction is underway after breaking crowd in April on a 58-unit Willow Haven project on East 13th Street that will target low-income veterans and homeless.
Devonwood, which will be located near Walmart, is scheduled to open this summer with 156 units, and Bella Vista, which will be located on Parsons Avenue near the Rancho San Miguel Market, is set to break ground this summer, as are two more of the nine more affordable housing projects Merced has coming down the pipeline.
Affordable housing is deed-restricted so it remains affordable to specific income levels based on Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds set by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
According to City of Merced management analyst Leah Brown, the AMI in Merced for a family of four in $93,900. Affordable housing units typically target households earning 30 to 80% of this figure.
The City had 10 parcels of surplus land. “The Surplus Properties Land Act”, which became law in January of 2020, requires local agencies to make surplus land available to affordable housing developers and other public agencies for the purpose of affordable housing.
“We went out and we opened up these requests for qualifications back in 2022 to attract affordable developers,” Brown said. “These are folks who know how to go after the grants, and with these grant writers, they can do these developments in partnership with the City, and that’s kind of taken these projects to the next level.”
The city facilitates state/federal grant acquisition, manages grant funds, and assists with permitting and rezoning.
Other affordable housing projects that are in earlier development stage include:
▪ A Linc Housing project located on I Street between 18th and 19th streets that will include 54 units, targeting low-income seniors.
▪ The Fuller Center, which will include five single-family homes.
▪ CC915 which will be a container village of 21 units located at 73 South R Street aimed at veterans and homeless.
▪ Mercy Village located on Park Avenue with 65 units aimed at helped disabled residents.
Serratto says he’s talked to people at homeless shelters who are excited about these projects.
“Some of the guys in the homeless shelter were excited about Devonwood project, because they can walk to Walmart,” he said. “They can walk to other places as well. It just makes it very accessible. Same thing with the Bella Vista project, which is right across the street from Rancho San Miguel and CVS. So providing that high density housing close to services is really important for people who might not have cars too.”
