Mercy Housing Breaks Ground on 70-Unit Veteran Affordable Housing Development at Former Mather Air Force Base
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — Mercy Housing and a coalition of public partners broke ground April 9 on Mather Veterans Village Phase IV, a 70-unit affordable housing development for senior homeless veterans located on the former Mather Air Force Base in Rancho Cordova, California. The groundbreaking marks the latest phase of a development effort spanning more than 15 years on the site.
Leaders from Mercy Housing California, Nation's Finest, the City of Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento County gathered alongside Congressman Ami Bera to mark the milestone. Homes are expected to open in August 2027, with Mercy Housing California serving as property manager and Nation's Finest providing onsite supportive services.
Background: A Multi-Phase Veterans Housing Campus
The Mather Veterans Village campus is described by its developers as the Sacramento region's first dedicated affordable housing community for veterans experiencing homelessness, situated on a former military installation. Previous phases of the development have already delivered 160 permanent and transitional homes on the site. Once all planned phases are complete, the broader Mather redevelopment is projected to support more than 5,000 veterans through housing, healthcare, and essential services.
Phase IV will add 70 new, all-electric apartment homes in a three-story building designed in a C-shaped layout intended to maximize natural light and encourage community connectivity. The building will be situated directly across from earlier phases of the Village.
Funding Structure
Phase IV is supported by a combination of local, state, and federal funding sources. Financing includes a Homekey+ investment from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, as well as contributions from the City of Rancho Cordova and Sacramento County. Congressman Bera secured $1 million in federal funding for the project. No private sale price, cap rate, or loan terms were disclosed in connection with the development.
Mercy Housing California Recent Activity
The Rancho Cordova groundbreaking is part of an active period for Mercy Housing California. The nonprofit has announced several other projects in recent months, including a groundbreaking on 96 affordable senior homes in Oakland in February 2026, the grand opening of Pleasant Grove Apartments in Roseville in March 2026, and The Heights on Stockton in Sacramento, which opened in June 2025.
Project Timeline and Next Steps
Construction on Phase IV is now underway following the April 9 groundbreaking ceremony. Mercy Housing California is slated to manage the completed property, while Nation's Finest will continue its role providing onsite supportive services to residents. The development is expected to welcome its first residents in August 2027.
