Los Banos, CA (September 5, 2025) – Los Banos is advancing the One Tree Project, a permanent supportive housing development designed to transition individuals out of local encampments and into stable homes. The initiative is part of the city’s broader “camp-to-housing” strategy, launched in 2023 as officials sought long-term solutions for unsheltered residents.
The project will build a 58-unit community on a four-acre, city-owned parcel along Gilbert Gonzalez Jr. Drive. The mix will include 50 one-bedroom units, four two-bedroom units, and four three-bedroom units. All homes are designed as modular permanent supportive housing, combining affordable rents with on-site case management, healthcare connections, employment support, and other services aimed at ensuring long-term stability.
On February 19, 2025, the Los Banos City Council approved an agreement with Anabasis LLC, which was selected through a competitive bidding process to lead the development. A regulatory agreement has been recorded against the property to ensure it remains dedicated to affordable housing.
Mayor Michael Amabile emphasized the broader vision behind the project, stating, “The One Tree Project is a major step forward in addressing homelessness in Los Banos. By creating permanent supportive housing, we are not just clearing camps, we are giving people a chance to rebuild their lives with stability and dignity.”
Funding for the project comes primarily from an $11.8 million Encampment Resolution Fund grant awarded by the state in 2024, along with $2.5 million from the Central California Alliance for Health. In addition to construction, these funds will cover up to three years of operating costs and on-site staff services. The total project budget is about $14 million. The city provided the land but emphasized that local taxpayers will not bear construction expenses.
Construction is expected to begin in a few weeks, with the first residents projected to move in by spring or summer 2026. The city’s Housing Division, led by Christy McCammond and Jennifer Loa under the direction of Community and Economic Development Director Stacy Souza Elms, will manage implementation, outreach, and service coordination.
In the interim, Los Banos established a sanctioned tent encampment with basic amenities to provide safer conditions while permanent housing is developed. Outreach staff are working with residents to prepare them for transition into One Tree housing by helping secure identification, benefits, and rental readiness.
The strategy is already producing results. The January 2025 homeless census counted 114 unhoused individuals in Los Banos, down from 149 the prior year. Officials attribute this decline to outreach, encampment management, and the anticipation of permanent housing.
Compared with other counties, Los Banos’ approach stands out for investing directly in permanent supportive housing. Modesto, for instance, recently secured $5.5 million in state funds to expand rapid rehousing and transitional placements rather than constructing new housing. Merced city is pursuing larger-scale modular and container housing developments, while smaller towns like Gustine lack the resources to launch projects of this scale.
If successful, the One Tree Project could serve as a model for mid-sized Central Valley communities by demonstrating how state funding, regional health partnerships, and local leadership can reduce homelessness through long-term housing rather than temporary displacement.
