Lavender Courtyard

Lavender Courtyard, which opened last May, offers 53 apartments to a diverse group of residents aged 62 and older. Mutual Housing California owns and operates 18 affordable housing communities serving 3,200 residents in Sacramento and Yolo counties.

Jessie Ann Wagster and her 15-year-old chihuahua, Jake, moved into a 1-bedroom apartment in Lavender Courtyard after living out of a 2015 Jeep Patriot for years. "This place turned my life around," she says. "I love everything about it here."

Jessie and Jake pass through the courtyard, which includes an outdoor seating area and a barbecue, on their way to the first-floor community room.

Steven Root (left), communications manager for Mutual Housing California, meets with Jessie in the community room, which features a full kitchen and a computer for residents' use. which features a full kitchen and a computer for residents' use.

"This is a welcoming, inclusive community," Steven Root says. Jessie quickly adds, "It's expected that everyone respects each other, and that keeps us on the same page."

Jessie and Jake prepare to make a "doughnut run" in her car, which is parked in the ground-floor garage.

Jake enjoys the grassy courtyard at his new home, Jessie says.

"This is a welcoming, inclusive community," says Steven Root, communications director of Mutual Housing California.

Lavender Courtyard's four-story building surrounds a courtyard, green space and community garden. Shared laundry facilities are available on every floor.

The front doors of the 53 apartments are painted a different color on each floor.

Eight planter boxes at the rear of the courtyard allow residents to grow fresh vegetables.

Rainbow flags mark space for each gardener.

Balcony units also provide outdoor space. "I's new and it's being very well kept up," Jessie says. "It's homey."