Residents set to move into Napa’s Heritage House starting next month

Move-ins at a major permanent project dedicated in part to housing Napa’s homeless population are set to begin early next month.

Located at 3700 Valle Verde Drive, Heritage House is an “adaptive reuse” of the former Sunrise Assisted Living Center. It features 66 single-room units — 58 studios and eight one-bedroom units — with more than half reserved for chronically homeless people in Napa and the rest for low-income people.

Molly Rattigan, Napa’s deputy city manager in charge of coordinating the city’s homeless response efforts, said permanent housing units, like those at Heritage House, bring a slew of benefits beyond just housing, including continued case management and social services.

“After experiencing homelessness, it can take time to transition to feeling safe and secure in housing and it’s often the time when clients can think about and begin working on their needs, now that immediate survival isn’t at forefront of their minds,” Rattigan said via email.

“Permanent housing comes with a lease, it builds tenancy experience and credit which are important if and when a household may want to transition to more independent living opportunities.”

Construction is expected to be fully completed in mid-March, according to Patrick Montgomery, communications and public relations manager for Burbank Housing.

Its second and third floors, though, are completed and residents are expected to begin moving into those units in early February. Full occupancy is expected by the end of March.

While there are a few studio apartments still available, Montgomery said units are restricted for current or retired agriculture workers who meet an income requirement of 30% to 60% area median income — around $28,000 to $56,000 a year for one person.

Abode Services, the homeless services provider for Napa County, will provide on-site support at Heritage House, including mental health treatment, case management and other services.

Heritage House pairs with the adjacent new construction, Valle Verde Apartments, which is set to include 24 multifamily apartments restricted to moderate income residents when it opens later this year.

Montgomery said Burbank will hold a grand opening celebration for both projects tentatively scheduled for June, once residents have fully moved in.

Rattigan noted that the new units will help add to Napa County’s recent successes in cutting down homelessness. She attributed the progress in part to another Burbank permanent housing project known as the Valley Lodge Apartments, a 54-unit project that used the Wine Valley Lodge motel and opened up in early 2023.

“Heritage House will continue to build on those efforts and allow the system to focus on maintaining stable housing,” Rattigan said.

You can reach Staff Writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or edward.booth@pressdemocrat.com.