In a decisive move to address the interconnected challenges of homelessness and severe mental illness, the city of Stockton has unveiled a landmark initiative designed to provide both a roof and a pathway to recovery for its most vulnerable residents. The grand opening of the Park Center Apartments on December 10th at 709 N. Center St. represented more than just the launch of a new housing complex; it symbolized a fundamental shift in community strategy, integrating permanent supportive housing with comprehensive, on-site mental healthcare. This pioneering project, born from a powerful collaboration between the Housing Authority of the County of San Joaquin (HACSJ), San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services (SJCBHS), and the city of Stockton, aims to restore hope and provide tangible progress by creating a stable environment where individuals can heal and rebuild their lives. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of a dedicated effort to move beyond temporary solutions and build a lasting foundation for wellness and independence.
An Innovative Model for Integrated Care
The foundational principle of the Park Center Apartments is its innovative fusion of permanent housing with immediate access to healthcare and robust case management services. This integrated approach directly dismantles a primary obstacle to recovery, as many individuals, especially those attempting to maintain employment, find it difficult to attend off-site appointments. By embedding treatment facilities within the residential complex, the program ensures that support is not just available but consistently accessible. Genevieve Valentine, Director of San Joaquin County Health Care Services, highlighted the profound psychological impact of this model, explaining that providing housing and healthcare simultaneously communicates to residents that they are valued and gives them a concrete reason for hope. This strategy is designed to foster an environment where residents can maintain their health, stay engaged with their recovery, and build the momentum needed for long-term stability, transforming a simple apartment into a comprehensive center for healing and personal growth.
This commitment to wellness extends far beyond basic medical needs, incorporating a multi-layered support system tailored to empower residents on their journey to self-sufficiency. Sasha Jackson, the deputy director of housing for the health division at Behavioral Health Services, detailed the scope of the case management, which includes intensive rehabilitation services focused on “skill building.” This crucial component equips individuals with practical tools to manage their mental health symptoms effectively in daily life. The wraparound support also provides vital linkages to psychiatry and group therapy sessions, creating a holistic network of care. Peter Ragsdale, executive director of HACSJ, emphasized the critical logic of this housing-first strategy, pointing out the inherent ineffectiveness of offering counseling and other mental health interventions to individuals who lack the fundamental security of a safe and stable place to live. The ultimate objective is to foster independence, enabling residents to maintain their housing and navigate the broader community with newfound confidence and resilience.
From Vacant Lot to Community Hub
The physical realization of the Park Center Apartments represents a remarkable transformation of a neglected corner of downtown Stockton. The project is a prime example of “adaptive reuse,” converting a former commercial building and an adjacent parking lot, once known for illegal dumping, into a modern and welcoming residential community. The development, completed over approximately 18 months, comprises two distinct structures that house 51 new apartments. The original historic office building at the site was meticulously redesigned to contain 23 residential units plus a unit for the on-site manager. Alongside it, a newly constructed three-story building adds another 27 apartments. This new addition also functions as the heart of the community, featuring a common room, a computer lab, and dedicated office spaces for property management and the residential mental health service providers. A thoughtfully designed second-floor bridge connects the two buildings, ensuring unified access and ADA-compliant elevator service for every resident.
Admission to the Park Center Apartments is carefully managed to serve a specific demographic in profound need. Peter Ragsdale clarified that the facility is designated for “SMI households,” an acronym for individuals with severe mental illness who require the dual support of deeply affordable housing and the intensive, ongoing case management provided by SJCBHS. Consequently, residency is not open to the general public but operates through a strict referral-only system to ensure that those who move in are already connected to the necessary support systems. All potential residents are referred directly from San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services, after which the Housing Authority conducts its standard eligibility verification. This targeted approach ensures that resources are directed to those who can benefit most from the integrated model. By the time of its official opening, the program was already operational, with 21 residents having moved into their new homes just after Thanksgiving, leaving 30 units available for future referred clients.
A Testament to Collaborative Vision
The successful completion of the Park Center Apartments stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through robust financial partnerships and a shared commitment among civic leaders. The project’s funding was a complex mosaic sourced from multiple channels, demonstrating a broad and unified base of community support. Key financial contributions included a $1.8 million grant awarded to HACSJ by SJCBHS, which utilized funds from the Mental Health Services Act. An additional $9.85 million for construction was sourced from other SJBHS grants through both the MHSA and the Permanent Local Housing Allocation. The city of Stockton contributed a significant $2.2 million grant from its HOME funds, while a crucial $1.9 million was secured through an award of Low Income Housing Tax Credits in July 2023. This diverse funding portfolio underscores the collaborative spirit that propelled the project from an ambitious concept to a tangible reality, uniting county, city, and state resources toward a common goal.
The sentiment of unified purpose was a recurring theme during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where key figures voiced their admiration for the project and its anticipated impact. Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi candidly admitted her initial struggle to envision the transformation of the site from a vacant lot into the proud facility it is today. She praised the development for providing essential “stability and dignity” to its residents and announced her intent to launch an “ad hoc on affordability” to continue addressing the city’s housing challenges. San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair Paul Canepa remarked that projects like Park Center “renew” his faith in humanity, reinforcing the core belief that “everyone deserves a nice place to live.” Assembly member Rhodesia Ransom framed the development as a direct and immediate “answer to that call” from the community for safe, stable housing, emphasizing that it offers a permanent home, “not a temporary stop.” This chorus of support from local leadership solidified the project’s role as a beacon of progress for Stockton.
Building on a Foundation of Success
The Park Center Apartments initiative was not an isolated project but the latest achievement in a sustained and strategic partnership between the Housing Authority of the County of San Joaquin and San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services. This development marked the fourth major collaboration between the two agencies, a partnership that has already proven highly effective in creating vital housing solutions. Together, their efforts have resulted in 128 units of permanent supportive housing and an additional 30 transitional apartments through a BRIDGE housing program. In total, HACSJ now manages 286 units of permanent supportive housing distributed across seven different properties. Peter Ragsdale noted that these facilities serve a diverse range of vulnerable populations, including mental health consumers, homeless veterans, former foster youth, and families in the CalWORKs program, helping them break the persistent and damaging cycle of homelessness through stable and supportive environments.
The successful launch of Park Center was not an endpoint but a milestone in an ongoing commitment to addressing the region’s housing crisis. The collaborative agencies announced their clear intention to build upon this successful model, with plans already underway for their fifth joint project. This new permanent supportive housing facility, slated to break ground in early 2026, will be constructed adjacent to an existing transitional site on N. Stanislaus Street. This forward-looking strategy demonstrated a deep-seated and long-term dedication to expanding integrated housing solutions. The Park Center project, therefore, stood as both a significant victory in the present and a carefully crafted blueprint for future endeavors, cementing a legacy of healing and housing that promised to reshape the community for years to come. The collective effort had established a new standard for compassionate and effective care in Stockton.
