Proposed Affordable Housing for Veterans
📍 10 Kirk Ave, San Jose, CA 95127
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Help us envision the next chapter of 10 Kirk, a historically veteran-focused community!
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The site at 10 Kirk Avenue in San Jose, currently serving as a temporary shelter for veterans, offers an incredible opportunity to continue serving the veteran population with expanded, holistic services including adding permanent affordable housing options for veterans.
Led by the Santa Clara County Housing Authority and Engage FORA, in collaboration on with the County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing. We are focused on the needs of veterans—ensuring their voices guide the transformation of 10 Kirk into a vibrant, supportive veteran-focused community.
Project Details / Upcoming Events / Join the Conversation / Community Engagement Overview /
Past Events / FAQs (coming soon) / Who Benefits from Affordable Housing? (coming soon)
/ At a Glance:
Development Details:
The redevelopment is anticipated to occur phases, which will allow the project to thoughtfully address immediate site needs while planning for the long-term future of 10 Kirk.
The initial proposed phase will focus on redeveloping the currently vacant four-building portion of the site.
The project team is currently in the early stages of planning and community engagement. Additional information regarding the proposed redevelopment will be shared as plans continue to evolve.
Project Goal:
Through a collaborative community engagement process, the goal of the 10 Kirk redevelopment is to guide the site’s next chapter as a veteran-focused community. Together, we strive to create vibrant, restorative, affordable housing options that fosters belonging, stability, healing, and peace for veterans—many of whom are in critical need of supportive housing.
Project Context:
10 Kirk has long served the needs of local veterans and remains an important community resource. The site includes eight aging buildings that vary significantly in condition. Currently, three residential buildings and one community building are being used to provide housing, shelter, and supportive services for veterans. The remaining four buildings are vacant and uninhabitable in their current state.
Upcoming Events Coming Soon!
/ Join the Conversation
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Take a minute to share your thoughts about the project using the quick form below. Your input helps shape what gets built.
New questions are posted every few months—check back to stay involved!
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/ Community Engagement Process
Design is better when diverse perspectives are at the table. Buildings that best provide for the needs of future residents, reflect their community and place, and are deeply valued by the community, are created by listening to those they strive to serve and including them throughout the design process.
✅Phase 1 / Connections Phase
We always begin community engagement by developing an understanding of the project’s context, including its location, history, and surrounding community. During the Connections Phase, we interviewed community leaders such as community organizations, non-profits, local businesses, and neighborhood leaders to gain hyperlocal insights.
➡️Phase 2 / Listening Phase
We are now in the first public phase of community engagement process, the Listening Phase. This phase is about understanding the community’s collective values and visions. Your critical insights help ensure the project is designed to best serve its community. Once this phase is complete, we will publish a Listening Report sharing more details and findings.
Past Listening Phase Events:
Stand Down! 2025
Recommended by local veteran-serving organizations as one of the biggest veteran event around, this pop-up provided an opportunity to connect with a large number of veterans and gather input to help shape the next chapter of the veteran-focused community at 10 Kirk. Through interactive activities, including a spinwheel raffle, the team encouraged participation and gathered valuable feedback on the overall vision, and the unique housing needs and priorities of veterans.
Women Vet’s Bunco Night
Hosted by the VA, Women Veterans Bunco Night provided an opportunity to connect with women veterans in a familiar, comfortable setting and hear perspectives often underrepresented in veteran outreach efforts. Through conversations with participants, primarily older women veterans, the team gathered valuable insights into household and shared amenity preferences, as well as the qualities of spaces that help women veterans feel safe, secure, and supported.
→ Please find our Report here, that covers what we heard from the community so far.
🏘️ Veteran-Focused Community: A dedicated community where veterans can connect through shared experiences, build camaraderie, support one another, and feel a sense of belonging.
🫶 Veteran-Specific Supports: Access to veteran-informed staff, as well as on-site resources such as wellness resources, job and skills training, quality food, and meaningful activities to keep busy, learn new skills, and build community.
🤝 Community Building: Welcoming spaces, activities, and programs that foster friendships, mutual support, and social connections, while offering choices for different comfort levels and needs.
🌿 Peaceful Environments: Calm, quiet, and restorative spaces with natural landscapes, gardens, and opportunities for relaxation, reflection, and well-being.
♿ Accessibility as Essential: Consider that veterans have higher rates of disabilities. Provide fully accessible buildings, apartments, and outdoor spaces that support mobility, independence, and aging in place.
🐾 Pet-Friendly as a Non-Negotiable: Strong emphasis on welcoming pets and service animals as essential companions that provide comfort, emotional support, and a sense of home.
🚌 Transit & Mobility: Convenient access to safe parking, and transit services that connect residents to everyday amenities.
🔒 Safety & Security: Physical and emotional safety through secure buildings, good lighting, clear policies, and resident-driven house rules that promote respect, accountability, safety, and a positive living environment.
🏠 Dignified Apartments: Comfortable, private homes fully-equipped with everyday essentials like adequate storage, personal cooking areas and refrigerators, and natural light that support dignity and independence.
👨👩👧 Flexible Living Arrangements: Housing options that accommodate individuals, couples, families, caregivers, and service animals, with choices for privacy and independence.
🔜Phase 3 / Co-creation Phase
Next we will enter the Co-creation Phase, which begins by reporting back the findings and major themes and values heard during the Listening Phase. A series of interactive design activities help inform the project design. Upholding a process based on transparency and integrity, the design team will describe the requirements and key design drivers for the development and only present feasible options. A summary of Past Co-creation Events will be added below as they occur.
Phase 4 / Accountability Phase
The Accountability Phase is a robust effort to gather and organize the valuable feedback we receive from the community throughout the engagement period, distill it into key themes and values, and clearly document how those insights are integrated into the project design. Once complete, a final report will be linked below highlighting the priorities and perspectives shared by the community and illustrating how input has meaningfully shaped the project.