Linc Housing and Partners Complete Conversion of Former Motel into Eighty Nine Supportive Homes in Anaheim

Linc Housing and partners have completed renovations at Azure, a supportive housing community in Anaheim that repurposed a former Studio 6 motel into permanent homes and resident services.

Azure is described in project materials as an 89-home supportive housing community. The renovation converted motel rooms into 67 studios and 20 one-bedroom apartments, and the property includes a community room, case management offices, a central courtyard, community garden and dog park. The site at 1251 N. Harbor Blvd. began interim use in 2022; the transition from interim to permanent housing started in February 2024 with designs by Y and M Architects and construction by Sun Country Builders. All homes are currently 100 percent occupied and are designated for households at or below 30 percent of area median income.

Partners on the project included nonprofit developer Linc Housing, service provider American Family Housing, the City of Anaheim, and state and health system funders. Funding and financing sources cited for Azure include the State of California’s Project Homekey program, City of Anaheim contributions, the Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program funded through CalOptima Health, financing from Capital One and Freddie Mac, tax credit equity syndicated through Raymond James, and project-based rental assistance vouchers from the Anaheim Housing Authority.

"We are thrilled to see yet another 87 permanent supportive homes open their doors to Californians in need thanks to the Governor's forward-thinking investment in Homekey," said Gustavo Velasquez, director, California Department of Housing and Community Development. "Azure offers its residents access to the services needed to support long-term stability and through its proximity to transit connects them to a world of opportunity."

"Azure delivers on the promise of what is possible in Anaheim," said Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken. "This community offers the dignity of supportive housing with the empowerment of beautiful surroundings. A place to call home that also inspires cannot be underestimated in its power to transform lives and spaces."

"Project Homekey gave us a way to act with urgency, and the City of Anaheim made that urgency real," said Suny Lay Chang, president and COO of Linc Housing. "Together, we converted a temporary solution into lasting housing that offers both stability and a path forward for the community's most vulnerable residents."

American Family Housing will deliver wraparound services and case management, including mental and physical health services, employment counseling and job placement, education, substance use counseling, benefits assistance, and referrals to community-based services. Linc Housing’s resident services team will provide community building activities and programs focused on health and well-being, workforce development, financial capability, and digital equity.

Azure illustrates an operational model for converting underused properties into permanent supportive housing through public-private partnerships and coordinated services. For multifamily operators and policymakers, the project highlights the role of cross-sector financing, on-site services, and proximity to transit in supporting long-term housing stability.