Affordable Housing Project Poised To Help Gilroy Farm Workers

By Jana Kadah, Bay City News Foundation

GILROY, CA — Santa Clara County's latest affordable housing development project, based in Morgan Hill, is poised to bring new units for agricultural workers.

The 73-unit complex called Royal Oak Village was approved by county supervisors on Tuesday with an allocation of $9.9 million from the Measure A affordable housing bond approved by voters in 2016, along with $400,000 in support from the City of Morgan Hill.

The complex, to be located at 15440 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill on former mushroom farmland, will include 30 apartments for farmworkers, 24 for low-income families and 18 units set aside for rapid rehousing to help homeless individuals and families with special needs. The last unit is set aside to be a manager-occupied unit.

The project will also have a clubhouse, green spaces, a dog park, and a tot-lot, according to the city of Morgan Hill's website.

"The housing bond has made a tremendous difference so far, but many of these developments have really focused on the county's urban core despite a huge need for more affordable housing in rural areas," Supervisor Mike Wasserman said.

The new project will directly impact the county's 8,000-plus agricultural workers, who despite contributing $830 million to the economy, can barely afford to live in the area. The county estimates a shortfall of 1,400 seasonal and 700 long term housing units to support the employment demands of the agricultural industry.

For example, at Christopher Ranch in Gilroy, most of the 800 full-time employees must travel land distances to get to work, owner Bill Christopher said.

"There is a big need for housing here," Christopher said. "I'm just glad someone is spearheading this effort and want to do something for the agricultural workers in Santa Clara County."
Local leaders echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the critical role of farmworkers for the county's economy and residents.

"Agricultural workers are the backbone of our food supply — we need to increase affordable housing opportunities so they can live closer to the essential work they do for all of us," said Miguel Marquez, chief operating officer for the county.

Marquez said a big part of addressing homelessness is prevention — which is exactly what this project seeks to do.

Assemblymember Robert Rivas also voiced his support for the project, emphasizing the need to create housing for the most vulnerable populations.

"California's farmworkers — who are overwhelmingly low-income — struggle with housing insecurity under even the best economic conditions," Rivas said. "Workers and their families are often left with no choice but to sleep in their vehicles, in illegally converted garages, and sometimes even outdoors."

He continued that without affordable housing for such populations, "we will not make a significant dent in the ongoing housing crisis."

The approval of the Royal Oak Village brings the county's total new units from Measure A funding to 3,600 across 35 developments.

The county also touted its success, pointing to the nearly 5,000 residents who were housed since the pandemics start and a 30 percent cut to homelessness in the last 12 months.

The construction of Royal Oaks Village will require the demolition of existing units that were part of the mushroom farm, as well as the widening of both Watsonville Road and Monterey Road.

The widening will include curb and gutter improvements, new storm drainage infrastructure, and a new sidewalk. Watsonville Road will also get a bike lane, a meandering pathway, medians, and new signing and striping, according to the city of Morgan Hill.

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