San Diego, CA – National CORE’s new Nestor Senior Village provides 73 apartment homes for San Diegans who have experienced homelessness, the latest contribution from the affordable housing developer to the region’s battle against the surging housing crisis.
National CORE, Nestor United Methodist Church and their partners celebrated the community’s grand opening on April 4.
“Nestor Senior Village represents a much-needed response to help our city’s senior residents who are facing the possibility of homelessness,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said.
“It is a pleasure to see how our partnership with National CORE has resulted in such a wonderful community, created specifically to help one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations.”
The 2023 San Diego County Affordable Housing Needs Report showed that 82% of extremely low-income households in San Diego are paying more than half their income on housing. The county boosted permanent supportive housing beds by 148% between 2019 and 2023, but the number still falls far short of the need, according to the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s Community Action Plan on Homelessness for the City of San Diego.
The new community – which includes 73 studio apartments for residents and one for an onsite manager – serves seniors ages 55 and better who have experienced homelessness or who were at risk of becoming homeless. Nestor Senior Village was developed through a pioneering partnership between National CORE, the church, the City of San Diego and San Diego County.
It follows the opening of Valley Senior Village in Escondido in November 2023 and Villa Serena in San Marcos in April 2023, both of which include permanent supportive housing (PSH) for residents who have experienced homelessness or were at risk of becoming homeless.
Nestor Senior is National CORE’s first partnership with a San Diego church to place affordable housing on underutilized land.
“Nestor Senior Village represents the remarkable achievements that are possible through unity and collaboration,” National CORE President Mike Ruane said. “In the face of San Diego’s pressing homelessness crisis and the critical need for accessible housing, this development is a testament to our collective determination and unwavering dedication to creating essential housing.”
Residents of Nestor Senior Village enjoy long-term community-based housing with dedicated support services and a rich tapestry of high-quality resources. The development includes 4,000 square feet of community space, including a community room, private offices for case management and UMC offices.
“Preserving affordable housing has been one of my top priorities since I got elected,” said Nora Vargas, chairwoman of the San Diego Board of Supervisors. “I am thrilled about the partnership that we have with Nestor Senior Village to ensure residents in District 1 have access to dignified and affordable housing. I look forward to expanding upon this work and creating more partnerships throughout San Diego County to further housing affordability.”
Nestor Senior Village residents share use of onsite amenities with the church, such as outdoor recreation space and the South Bay Metro Good Neighbor Center, which is run by Nestor UMC. The Center provides community members with food, clothing, annual Christmas baskets and referrals for housing and other community help agencies.
Nestor UMC, founded in 1896, has a history of serving individuals who are unhoused.
“Nestor United Methodist Church is grateful to be a member of the incredible team that brought Nestor Senior Village to fruition,” Nestor UMC Pastor Kimberly Ports said. “We celebrate the creation of 73 affordable housing units for seniors in San Diego. May this project inspire further creativity, collaboration, and investment in creating a city and county that supports the dignity and flourishing of all people.”
Father Joe’s Villages and Alpha Project’s Tenant Peer Support Services Program provide case management services. The comprehensive slate of services ensures residents have all the tools they need to remain healthy and housed.
“Many congratulations to National CORE for the launch of the beautiful Nestor Senior Village,” said Ruth Bruland, chief program officer for Father Joe’s Villages. “Father Joe’s Villages is proud to be a part of what happens next – dozens of seniors are going to enter safe, secure and beautiful housing. Not shelter, but permanent housing, which we all know is the permanent solution to homelessness. This is a very happy day – truly a lifesaving day.”
The Hope through Housing Foundation provides additional supportive services – from recreation to mental health support in conjunction with Father Joe’s, CASA Familiar, San Ysidro Health/San Diego Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and San Ysidro Health Services. Hope through Housing’s Collaborative Housing Retention Intervention Program (CHRIP) provides support to help ensure residents are able to retain housing when challenges arise.
“Hope through Housing is dedicated to ensuring residents of National CORE properties thrive,” said Alyssa Cotter, vice president of Hope through Housing. “Our service coordinators strive to create a sense of community and collaborate with our resident services partners to ensure residents are connected with every possible resource they may need.”
In addition, the all-electric development was designed with the latest in sustainability features, limiting its carbon footprint through extensive use of solar power, high-efficiency appliances, all-electric heat pumps and energy-efficient building envelope. The building’s systems help it approach zero net energy. As a result, Nestor Senior is anticipated to receive a LEED for Gold certification.
Two Metropolitan Transit Service transit bus stations are located adjacent to the property along Coronado Avenue and Hollister Street and the Blue Line Trolley transit station on Palm Avenue is just a one-mile bus ride, bike and walking distance.
Nestor is half a mile from Nestor Park, a local pharmacy and Nestor Community Health Center and a mile from a local grocery store. As part of the development, National CORE improved area streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks along Nestor Way and Flower Street and an area walking path.
This project is funded in part with HOME Investments Partnerships Grant (HOME) funds provided to the City of San Diego by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by the San Diego Housing Commission.
“The housing crisis we are experiencing is a significant countywide problem, and it requires a unified effort to develop innovative solutions that can help address the situation,” said Eugene Mitchell, board of commissioner’s chair for the San Diego Housing Commission. “This housing development is a great example of what can be achieved through public-private partnership and collaboration with faith-based organizations. Unfortunately, seniors are one of the fastest-growing populations experiencing homelessness, largely because they can’t keep up with rising housing costs. Nestor Senior Village is a lifeline for 73 seniors who otherwise would be homeless, and the Housing Commission is thrilled to provide rental assistance to help this project provide shelter and support for the residents.”
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About National CORE
National CORE is one of the largest nonprofit developers in the nation, with a 30-year history of being an innovator in the field. In 2021, National CORE became one of only two affordable housing developers to earn an A+ credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings. In 2022, National CORE issued $100 million in Series 2022 Social Bonds to accelerate the development of critically needed affordable housing. Serving more than 25,000 residents, National CORE strives to be a launching pad, not a landing pad, for families struggling financially. In 1998, National CORE created the Hope through Housing Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit, whose mission is to end the cycle of generational poverty through resident services that promote educational attainment, economic mobility, and overall well-being.
Media contact
William Diepenbrock
wdiepenbrock@nationalcore.org
(909)294-7883