Latest News from RCD
Fall 2026

In This Issue

This fall, RCD is celebrating deep roots and new beginnings. We set a fundraising record at Sparking Connections, broke ground on 236 homes in Fremont and Santa Clara, and are welcoming the first residents home to Longfellow Corner. Thank you for being part of this work.

A link to: From the Field: Construction Updates
More than 420 new homes are under construction, plus $109.9 million in AHSC neighborhood investment.

A link to: Policy Wins and What’s on the Ballot
RCD’s first bill became law, and we’re backing Prop 1 and Measure X.

A link to: A Record Night at Sparking Connections
We honored Senator Arreguín, the County of Santa Clara, and six Irwin Mussen scholars.

A link to: Welcome Home, Longfellow Corner!
Residents are moving into 77 new homes in Oakland, with a Grand Opening planned for early 2027.

A link to: A Path from Homelessness, Made Permanent
A former interim-housing motel in Santa Clara is becoming 120 permanently affordable homes.

A link to: RCD Represents the East Bay at National Power of Place Convening
RCD’s Ana Rasquiza represented Alameda County’s unincorporated communities at a national gathering in New York.

From the Field: Construction Updates

Right now, more than 420 new affordable homes are under construction. Here’s where things stand this fall.

Civic Crossing, Walnut Creek

Construction began in June 2025 on 93 affordable homes, including 30 for formerly homeless households with mental health diagnoses, near Walnut Creek BART. We will host Walnut Creek city leaders and funders for a hard hat tour this November, and completion is expected in spring 2027.

Lupina, San José

Construction began in November 2025 on 99 affordable homes, including 25 for formerly homeless households, plus a childcare center operated by Kids First Academy. Completion is expected in fall 2027.

Clara Gardens, Santa Clara

Construction began this summer on 120 affordable homes, including 30 for formerly homeless households. Completion is expected in early 2028.

Thornton & Post, Fremont

Construction is underway on 116 affordable homes, including 10 for households with developmental disabilities, beside the Centerville train station. Completion is expected in early 2028.

Fox Courts, Oakland

Renovations began this summer at this 80-home RCD community, with completion expected in summer 2027.

Lakeside Apartments, Concord

Renovations are underway at this 124-home community, including a full roof replacement, with completion expected by the end of 2027.

More than homes: what AHSC brings to the neighborhood

Thornton & Post, Civic Crossing, and Lupina are all funded in part by California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program, which pairs new homes with investments in streets, public transit, and community-serving programs around them. Together, the three awards total $109.9 million, including $30.1 million for transportation and community infrastructure:

More than three miles of new sidewalk connecting residents to rail, BART, and bus lines in Fremont, San José, and Walnut Creek.
Improved transit access in Fremont, including a new train depot plaza in the Centerville neighborhood, support for the Centerville Complete Streets project, and funding toward a zero-emission passenger locomotive.
Safer streets in San José, including protected bike lanes, dedicated bus lanes, new bus boarding platforms and shelters along the Monterey corridor, and pedestrian safety upgrades on walking routes to three elementary schools.
Enhanced public transit service in Walnut Creek, including funding to operate County Connection Route 4, new bus shelters, and upgrades at Walnut Creek BART.
Job training and community partnerships with Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, the Center for Employment Training, SparkPoint Fremont, NPH’s Bay Area Housing Internship Program, the NorCal Carpenters Union, Abode Services, and the South Bay Community Land Trust.

Together, these investments are projected to avoid nearly 197,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the three projects. Most of that comes from replacing the ACE diesel locomotive serving Fremont’s Centerville station with a zero-emission one.

Policy Wins and What’s on the Ballot

RCD’s first bill is now law, and our advocacy helped pass seven of the ten bills we supported this session.

Signed into Law: Wins for Affordable Housing

AB 2146. This bill marks the first time RCD played a lead role in advancing legislation in Sacramento, from developing the initial concept to shaping bill language, building support, and working with legislators. The new law directs the state to conduct a comprehensive review of Coordinated Entry System (CES), the process that connects people experiencing homelessness with supportive housing.

A big thank you and congratulations to Courtney Pal, Director of Policy and Advocacy, for her work in leading the effort and to our Board President, A link to: William Goodwin, who testified in support.

AB 2020. The new law enables nonprofit housing providers like RCD to move certain excess operating funds or reserves between their properties, giving us more flexibility to stabilize buildings facing financial challenges and maintain stable operations across our portfolio.

AB 750. The new law expands eligibility for the state’s Portfolio Reinvestment Program, which helps finance the rehabilitation of existing affordable homes. If Prop 1 passes and funds the program, it could open new resources for major repairs and modernization at RCD properties.

RCD is proud to support two ballot measures this November

Vote yes on Prop 1

Prop 1 is an $11.25 billion statewide affordable housing bond that will help build and preserve affordable homes across California without raising taxes. It will create affordable homes for veterans, seniors, working families, foster youth, and survivors of domestic violence.
A link to: Learn more →

Vote yes on measure x

In Berkeley, Measure X is a practical update to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance that modernizes Rent Board operations, reduces administrative burdens on nonprofit affordable housing providers, and keeps existing protections for residents. It earned unanimous support from the Berkeley City Council.
A link to: Learn more →

Stay engaged

Join RCD’s Housing Action Network to receive advocacy opportunity alerts directly to your inbox. Learn about upcoming public meetings, policy discussions, and other ways to show your support for affordable housing initiatives in your community.

A link to: Join Us

A Record Night at Sparking Connections

Thank you to the partners, residents, and supporters who make RCD’s work possible.

On September 23, more than 200 friends, partners, and residents gathered for Sparking Connections 2026: Deeply Rooted. Together, we raised more than $205,000, the most in the event’s history!

We were proud to honor Senator Jesse Arreguín and the County of Santa Clara, each recognized as a steadfast partner and champion of affordable housing. Senator Arreguín joined us to accept his award, and Hilary Armstrong accepted on behalf of the County’s Office of Supportive Housing.

“We always appreciate RCD’s commitment to deep affordability and building beautiful projects that are mission-driven, people-centered, and rooted in community.”

— Hilary Armstrong, Deputy Director, Office of Supportive Housing, County of Santa Clara

The evening also celebrated this year’s six Irwin Mussen Scholarship recipients, RCD residents pursuing degrees in nursing, kinesiology, biology, and creative writing. Launched in 2009, the scholarship honors Irwin Mussen, RCD’s longest-serving board member, who spent 24 years championing housing for all and believed deeply in the power of community.

A special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors, Nibbi Brothers General Contractors and Branagh Construction. We’re grateful to every sponsor who made the night possible.

Welcome Home, Longfellow Corner!

Residents are moving into 77 new affordable homes in Oakland.

Longfellow Corner, RCD’s newest community at MacArthur Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland, has received its Certificate of Occupancy, and residents are starting to move in now, in time to enjoy the upcoming holiday season.

Longfellow Corner is designed to serve large families, with about half of its apartments sized at two or three bedrooms. Homes serve households earning 20% to 50% of the Area Median Income, and 34 apartments are reserved for households moving directly out of homelessness. Fourteen apartments are accessible for residents with mobility, hearing, or vision needs.

RCD and LifeLong Medical Care provide on-site services, with LifeLong coordinating health and social services for residents transitioning out of homelessness. A central community room with a shared kitchen, along with free internet, gives neighbors a place to gather and stay connected.

“Watching families pick up their keys is one of the best parts of our work. For many of the families moving in this fall, Longfellow Corner is the first place in a long time that’s truly theirs, and it’s a joy to welcome them home.”

— Olivia King, RCD Director of Resident Services

The City of Oakland committed roughly $19 million, and the California Department of Housing and Community Development provided roughly $31 million through its Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC), No Place Like Home, and Infill Infrastructure Grant programs. Construction financing is provided by U.S. Bank, and Red Stone Equity Partners is the tax credit equity investor. The Oakland Housing Authority will provide project-based vouchers, and additional grants came from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Public Utilities Commission.

Longfellow Corner sits near MacArthur BART. Through the AHSC program, the development also brought $7.3 million in transportation investment to the neighborhood, including complete streets work on 27th Street, safety improvements at the MacArthur BART 40th Street underpass, and funding toward two new BART rail cars. Every household will receive a discounted Clipper transit pass for three years.

Congratulations to Senior Project Manager Nicole Brown, our partners at SVA Architects and Branagh Construction, and the full Longfellow Corner team! We can’t wait to celebrate with friends and partners at the official Grand Opening in early 2027!

A Path from Homelessness, Made Permanent: Clara Gardens Breaks Ground

The former Bella Vista Inn in Santa Clara is becoming 120 permanently affordable rental homes.

On September 8, RCD, the County of Santa Clara, and project partners gathered on El Camino Real to celebrate Clara Gardens moving into construction. Executive Director Dan Sawislak welcomed the group, joined by Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, KJ Kaminski of the County’s Office of Supportive Housing, Fiona Hsu of First Citizens Bank, and Santa Clara City Councilmembers Albert Gonzalez, Kevin Park, and Karen Hardy.

The site served as interim housing from June 2023 to April 2026. With a $22.1 million state Homekey grant, the County acquired the former Bella Vista Inn, and RCD made light renovations so it could open quickly as interim housing. During that time, the County supported 379 people in transitioning out of homelessness, including 271 who moved from Bella Vista into permanent housing. Nine of them now live at RCD’s Sango Court in Milpitas.

The second phase adds a new seven-story building and extensive renovations. Once complete, Clara Gardens will offer 120 studio to three-bedroom apartments, including 30 permanent supportive homes for people leaving homelessness, with on-site resident services. The County committed roughly $18 million, and the Santa Clara County Housing Authority will provide 30 project-based vouchers. Construction and permanent financing is provided by First Citizens Bank, and Hudson Housing Capital is the tax credit equity investor.

Thank you to our partners at Van Meter Williams Pollack and James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corporation for designing and bringing the vision for this community to life.

“By transforming a former interim-housing motel into permanent, dignified homes, we’re proving that people can safely and confidently leave homelessness when we invest in long-term solutions.”

— Susan Ellenberg, Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 4

RCD Represents the East Bay at National Power of Place Convening

RCD joined a national conversation on place-based strategies for youth and families.

This fall, RCD’s Community Development team traveled to New York for Power of Place 2026, an invite-only national gathering hosted by Harlem Children’s Zone’s William Julius Wilson Institute. The fifth annual convening brought together more than 1,000 leaders, practitioners, and policymakers working to improve social and economic mobility for young people through place-based, cradle-to-career strategies.

“A safe, affordable home is the starting point, not the finish line. Power of Place reminded me that real change happens when housing, education, and opportunity work together in the same neighborhood. That’s the work our team does every day.”

— Ana Rasquiza, RCD’s Director of Community Development

RCD’s Director of Community Development, Ana Rasquiza, joined a California delegation to represent RCD and Alameda County’s urban unincorporated communities, where residents often face gaps in services and investment. While there, they connected with Assemblymember Mia Bonta and brought home ideas to strengthen RCD’s work with residents and partners.

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Latest News from RCDFall 2026