In 2018 and at Supervisor Simitian's urging, the County committed $40 million to support the development of affordable housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). People with I/DD often have fixed incomes that can make it difficult to access and maintain housing, and are especially vulnerable if they become homeless. As of November 2022, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has awarded funding for seven housing projects across the County in Milpitas, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, enabling the creation of more than 800 new affordable housing units, including 140 set aside for individuals with I/DD. Included in these is a project in Palo Alto Supervisor Simitian championed in 2020 located at a County-owned site Simitian identified. Known as Mitchell Park Place, the project is a partnership between the County, nonprofit housing developer Eden Housing, and AbilityPath (a nonprofit that provides services to residents with I/DD). It will include 25 units for residents in this population, as well as space for AbilityPath to provide services.
