Modesto Daily Briefing: Housing, Health, and Tributes on February 18, 2026

City moves ahead on motel-to-housing conversion

Modesto leaders are pushing forward with a plan to turn the 54-room Travelers Motel on North Ninth Street into permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. The city is partnering with an affordable housing developer on a $23.2 million proposal and will seek about $17 million from the state’s Project Homekey program.

The project would create dozens of studio apartments, with many units reserved for young adults ages 18 to 25 who are unhoused. Supportive services would be provided by local social service and behavioral health agencies, aiming to pair housing with on-site help for residents.

Current motel tenants are part of the discussion as the city and its partners work through relocation needs and timelines. Officials say the conversion is intended to become long-term supportive housing rather than temporary shelter.

New nonprofit health clinic opens on Orangeburg

A new nonprofit health center has opened at 2116 E. Orangeburg Avenue, expanding access to care for Modesto residents who may not see a doctor regularly. Operated by Livingston Community Health, the clinic offers primary and preventive care, women’s health, pediatrics, chronic disease management, mental health services, and help with insurance enrollment.

The center serves patients with Medi-Cal, Medicare, private insurance, or no insurance, with a focus on neighborhoods where thousands of residents lack regular access to care. Clinic leaders say the Modesto site is part of a broader effort to reach more low-income and medically underserved families in Stanislaus County.

Medical staff from a regional physician group are already seeing patients, and organizers expect the clinic to become a training site for students and residents in the future.

New neighborhood honors Modesto firefighters

On the city’s northeast side, a new housing development near Merle Avenue and Clause Road is doubling as a tribute to Modesto’s firefighters. Streets in the neighborhood are being named after local fire personnel, including several who died in the line of duty or from job-related illnesses.

City officials and fire department leaders say the project is meant to highlight the risks first responders take on every call and to keep the names of local firefighters visible in the community. Plans also include a firefighter-themed park with playground equipment modeled after fire apparatus, along with a memorial feature recognizing honorees.

The neighborhood is still under construction, but homes are already drawing interest, and the park is expected to be completed later this year.

Coming up: Community events and observances

Looking ahead, local groups are preparing for late-February gatherings, including a Black History Month empowerment luncheon at a downtown event center and community fundraisers such as a long-running crab feed hosted at a Modesto church. Event organizers say proceeds from these gatherings support a variety of local educational and charitable efforts.

Sources

• https://www.aol.com/news/modesto-plan-turn-motel-housing-150749367.html
• https://www.aol.com/modesto-nonprofit-health-clinic-livingston-191952144.html
• https://www.aol.com/articles/modesto-neighborhood-honors-fallen-firefighters-062038176.html
• https://visitmodesto.com/events/luncheon-third-annual-black-history-month-celebration/
• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/modesto-ahepa-presents-the-32nd-annual-all-you-can-eat-crabfeed-tickets-1981078903329