Satellite Housing has a significant track record in development, operation, and supportive services delivery for low-income residents throughout the Bay Area. Over the past 4 decades, Satellite has fulfilled its mission and founding principles by addressing the unmet housing and service needs of our region's lowest income seniors, families, and adults with special needs.

The Housing Development Department oversees all aspects of project development from property acquisition to occupancy. Recognizing the incredible need for affordable housing in the Bay Area, Satellite changed its focus almost 10 years ago from exclusively senior housing to housing for other populations, including special needs populations and families. With an expanded mission, Housing Development staff utilize other sources of funding such as tax credit equity and commercial bank financing.

The department's goals and vision for all of our new developments include:

• Creative financing.
• Design and marketing to address the needs of underserved special needs populations.
• Attractive, efficient designs that are sensitive to the needs of the resident population: the elderly, families, or those with special needs.
• Properties that are appropriate to their surrounding neighborhoods in size, design, and scale.
• Projects developed through true partnerships with local community agencies and advocacy organizations.
• Well-designed community spaces including computer labs, large community rooms, and multipurpose rooms.
• Comprehensive and culturally competent supportive service plans.
• Projects completed within budget and on schedule.

Local funding is an important component in acquisition and predevelopment activities, and is obtained through demonstrated performance, a strong record of completed projects that remain financially sound and affordable, and well-maintained working relationships with local government staff and community leaders.

The housing department manages all due diligence activities including identification and selection of design and engineering consultants, housing and financial consultants, and required testing and reports, such as Phase I Site Assessments and NEPA studies. The department prepares and coordinates funding applications and, once funded, manages each project through construction. With multiple projects in development and various others in early conceptual stages, staff works closely with the other Satellite departments from initial design to ensure that once completed, projects transition smoothly into operation with accurate operating budgets and appropriate amenities.