In the heart of San Francisco, a new kind of housing community is proving what’s possible when accessible design, supportive services, and community financial partnerships come together. The Kelsey Civic Center, a 112-unit mixed-income development, is more than just housing—it’s a model for how people with and without disabilities can live together in community.

This vision to create affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing became reality thanks in part to a $1.6 million grant from FHLBank San Francisco’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The Kelsey partnered with FHLBank San Francisco member financial institution Tri Counties Bank to secure the AHP grant.

“Tri Counties Bank is honored to be involved in meaningful affordable housing developments like The Kelsey,” said Danna Prater, Director of Community Development for Tri Counties Bank. “Projects like The Kelsey that provide affordable housing plus options for families and those with disabilities are vital to the success of our communities, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.”

The AHP grant provided a flexible source of gap financing that helped The Kelsey and its partners bring the project to life, making sure affordable, accessible, and inclusive homes could be built in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets.

For 44-year-old Rory, a resident at The Kelsey Civic Center living with a disability, the move into the building has been life-changing. “It’s just been good living here,” Rory said. “I just like it. I like the design of it. It’s close to BART and MUNI trains.” The native San Franciscan, who previously lived with his parents, appreciates the chance to live on his own in an inclusive community. The central, downtown location of his new home allows him to easily travel via public transportation to visit family and commute to and from work.

The Kelsey Civic Center is intentionally designed to meet a wide range of needs with accessibility and wellness at its core. Some of the thoughtful design features include:

• Elevator foot pedals for hands-free use, making the building more navigable for residents with mobility or dexterity challenges.

• Thoughtful wayfinding systems to support cognitive access needs, with clear signage, visual cues, and intuitive navigation.

• Acoustic felt walls to create calmer, quieter spaces that reduce sensory overload.

• Wide hallways with handrails for safety and comfort.

• A planted courtyard atrium and open-air walkways, bringing natural light, fresh air, and greenery into the heart of the development.

• Eco-friendly finishes and materials chosen with health and wellness in mind, creating a healthier environment for all residents.

These design elements, paired with the building’s community-oriented operations, help ensure that residents of all abilities feel at home and supported.

Beyond physical design, the building incorporates other thoughtful details that allow residents with disabilities to live independently. “We’re creating a new housing model that tries to build in the supports that people with disabilities need to live in community,” said Louisa Bukiet, Senior Manager of Housing at The Kelsey Civic Center. “That means everything from places for case managers to meet with residents, to inclusion concierges who are a friendly face in the building and can help people navigate systems and access supports.”

The inclusive community was also planned to accommodate a range of income levels. “We’re a mixed-income community. We have people ranging from 20% area median income (AMI), which is extremely low-income, all the way up to 80% of AMI in this building, living here together in community,” explained Louisa. About a quarter of the apartments are two-bedroom units, which were carefully designed with flexibility in mind. “The two-bedroom units are designed for families with children or multiple generations who might need multiple bedrooms. But they’re also for people with disabilities who live with a full-time aide, who will need their own bedroom and their own space within an apartment.”

The location adds another layer of independence and connection. “We’re close to a lot of the resources that people who live here rely on,” Louisa noted. “Residents can walk to a grocery store, they can walk to a bank, and they can use public transportation to get to their jobs or other places in the city.”

Convenient access to resources, including public transportation, has already become part of Rory’s everyday life. “I take the bus or BART,” he said. By combining thoughtful design with access to a variety of resources, this development is proving that communities can be both affordable and inclusive. “The people here have all different types of disabilities and there are people who don’t have disabilities. I just like living here.”

The Kelsey Civic Center joins a growing collection of affordable housing communities across Arizona, California, and Nevada supported by FHLBank San Francisco’s Affordable Housing Program. Each year, the Bank awards tens of millions of dollars in grants delivered to member financial institutions and their nonprofit and community partners, helping to make projects like this possible.