Did you know that there are an estimated 926 homeless veterans on any given night in Menlo Park, California? Not only that, but the Veteran Administration says almost 70 percent of all homeless veterans in the region have at least one disability, making it tough to afford the area’s legendary high housing costs.

At my housing developer, we felt like we had to do something to help enhance the quality of life in the area. We decided to take on a grand project to help the community. In fact, the project was so grand that it won a 2016 Structure Award in the Affordable Residential Project category. Awarded by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the awards feature standout projects in Silicon Valley real estate.

The award as definitely a standout since affordable housing projects are difficult to finance — but we overcame this feat. We had to secure funding from 10 different sources and needed to make creative use of the land. In coordination with Core Companies, we leased a two-acre site on the Veteran Administration’s Menlo Park campus for free under an initiative to put underused VA land to use for homeless veterans that needed housing.

The Spanish-style, $29.5 million-dollar project was completed in December 2015. With 60 units spread across two acres, this should be a big help for very-low income veterans. Rent starts at just $554/month for a studio, and the community includes numerous services to help with employment, health and wellness, financial planning and community building. Proximity to the VA means it’s easy for residents to obtain services there, as well.

Most importantly, these units were designed with veterans in mind. Early in the conceptual design process, formerly homeless veterans provided design input to ensure that the veterans who would be moving in could be as comfortable as possible. Units feature roll-in showers and fully adaptable designs that allow veterans to age in place regardless of mobility impairments. In addition, sound insulation mitigates environmental sound nuisances that can trigger PTSD symptoms.

The interior and exterior designs of the units were based on veterans requesting a calm, serene environment. To do so, oak trees in the property were preserved to encourage the serene environment. Wall art displayed throughout the hallways and a sculpture in the garden area was commissioned through the Veteran Artist Program, a nonprofit that “takes artists who are also veterans, and propels their works and careers into the mainstream creative arts community.”

The Willow Housing Community is located at 605 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California.