By Laura Petersen, Nevada County public information contractor

Four local families will soon become new homeowners in a neighborhood known as the Ventana Sierra Project in Grass Valley, part of a community-wide effort to make housing affordable. 

“This is something we’re very excited and proud of,” said Tyler Barrington, interim director for Nevada County’s Housing and Community Services Department. 

Last week, Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved a $725,000 contract with Nevada County Habitat for Humanity to develop and construct four houses for low-income households. 

Habitat for Humanity uses federal guidelines to define low income eligibility - usually 30% - 80% of the area’s median income - as determined by a federal program known as Housing and Urban Development or HUD. For example, in Nevada County the 2024 median income for a family of four is $112,500.

To qualify for Habitat’s program a family’s income under this median income threshold would need to be between $33,750 - $90,000.

The funding approved by supervisors will allow Habitat for Humanity to help cover costly infrastructure such as sewer and water, construction supplies and permits. The total cost to build the four low-income houses will be $1.2 - $1.4 million. 

“That is our biggest challenge - preparing the sites to build. This kind of bold support is really going to help us accelerate our work, benefiting Habitat (for Humanity) and our community in a big way,” said Lorraine Larson, executive director of the nonprofit. 

Funding sources come from a mix of state and local funds. 

Funding for the project comes from the Western Nevada County Regional Housing Trust Fund. Created in 2020, the trust fund is a collaborative effort between Nevada County, the City of Nevada City and the City of Grass Valley to leverage state matching funds for the purpose of increasing affordable housing options. Committee members come together to evaluate projects for proposal and Nevada County is the administrator of the funding. 

“We’ve got an incredible fiscal team who has worked hard on this trust fund. We do whatever we can to leverage those funds,” said Angela Masker, senior administrative analyst for Nevada County’s Housing and Community Services Department. 

The Housing and Community Services Division is a small County team that promotes safe, affordable housing and community development services through loans, grant programs and community collaboration. 

Housing is one of the Board of Supervisor’s 2025 priority objectives. County staff are directed to “coordinate with local jurisdictions, developers and other partners to facilitate development of, and access to, affordable and workforce housing.” 

Leaning into partnerships with local organizations and developers is a tool with powerful results. Other examples of trust fund-supported projects include Cashin’s Field in Nevada City, Lone Oak Senior Housing in Penn Valley and, last fall, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity led to a mother being able to purchase a home for her family.  

“This opportunity for home ownership was life changing for the family and provided not only a home but a sense of knowing that the community supports their success,” said Masker. 

District 3 Supervisor Lisa Swarthout acknowledged the work of Habitat for Humanity locally and nationally to help families realize their dream of becoming homeowners. 

“This is really the fastest track for homeownership in our community and across the country and I applaud you for being able to build on this site,” said Swarthout.  

Building A Community For Everyone

In May, crews broke ground and poured foundations. In the last few weeks, volunteers helped frame the first walls. 

“We have broken ground and started site preparation, with building permits for two of the four houses already in hand. We are moving on those homes and have walls up on one and foundations poured for two of them,” said Larson. 

So far, two homeowners have been selected for the Ventana Sierra Project and Habitat for Humanity is in the process of selecting two more families. This project will have a 30-year deed restriction that limits ownership of the property to an income qualified occupant. The mortgage will not be more than what the homeowner can afford and the houses cannot be sold unless it is to another income eligible family. 

“(This project) is going to help approximately five adults and 13 children with permanent housing and a permanent roof over their head. It’s really a big deal for these families,” said Larson. 

 Located on Ventana Sierra Drive in Grass Valley, near Nevada Union High School, four single-family homes with two to four bedrooms each will serve approximately 20 residents. Two of the children are students at the high school. The modest homes range in size from 800 to 1300 square feet.

All homes are expected to be completed by June 2027, if not sooner. 

Since 2021, Nevada County has collaborated with partners and stakeholders to develop 285 units of new housing, with six units of permanent supportive housing for community members with mental illness, and currently have an additional 10 units of permanent supportive housing in planning through Pacific Crest Commons in Eastern County and 39 units of permanent housing in planning through the Lone Oak II project, Habitat for Humanity and the Badger Lane project on the Empire Mine Courtyard site.  

“Housing affordability is a major concern for many residents of the County. We do whatever we can with the funding we can obtain. Housing is not only about building units, but also about supporting community residents to be able to afford housing,” said Masker. 

Learn more about Nevada County Habitat for Humanity at https://nchabitat.org/

Learn more about Nevada County’s Housing and Community Services Department at https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/539/Housing-Community-Services