Cesar Chavez Foundation Celebrates Opening of Chris Hartmire Plaza, a New Affordable Housing Community Linking Housing, Health, and Hope to Address Critical Need in Pomona 

In a region where nearly two-thirds of renters are cost-burdened, the new 90-unit community brings affordable homes and on-site health services to individuals, families, and veterans 

Pomona, Calif. — Community leaders, residents, and partners gathered today to celebrate the grand opening of Chris Hartmire Plaza, a new 90-unit affordable housing community developed by the Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF). The development provides safe, high-quality homes for low-income individuals, families, and veterans in Pomona, a region where affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for working families. 

“Today’s celebration and opening of Chris Hartmire Plaza is an example of how the ideals and values of Cesar Chavez remain steadfast in our work,” said Manuel H. Bernal, president and CEO of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. “The life work of Cesar Chavez and Reverend Hartmire was defined by humility, conviction, and service to others. Chris Hartmire Plaza reflects that enduring vision—linking housing, health, and hope for families in Pomona by creating a community where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.”  

Chris Hartmire Plaza is a vibrant, service-rich community that integrates housing with on-site health and supportive services for residents. The LEED-certified development features 30 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom, and 30 three-bedroom apartments for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), including apartments reserved for veterans and people with disabilities, and individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.  

“Chris Hartmire Plaza represents the best of what Pomona stands for — a city that believes in community, compassion, and opportunity,” said Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval. “This new development gives families and veterans a place to call home, access to health care and support, and a chance to build a better future right here in our city.” 

The new community is named after the Reverend Chris Hartmire who worked with civil rights and labor leader Cesar Chavez and other early organizers before there was a farm worker union. Hartmire selflessly dedicated himself for decades to building what became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Always humble and soft-spoken, Chris inspired countless women and men to activism and “servanthood” by dedicating themselves to the UFW and other good works. During the celebration, a four-story mural by Los Angeles–based artist John Park was unveiled that celebrates resilience and the shared legacy of Cesar Chavez and Reverend Chris Hartmire, serving as a powerful symbol of unity and hope for residents and the Pomona community. 

Chris Hartmire Plaza features a wide range of community amenities, including a park, community room, tot lot, picnic areas, counseling offices, laundry facilities, and dedicated spaces for after-school children’s programs and adult educational programs.  

“Moving into Chris Hartmire Plaza has been one of the biggest blessings God could have given my family and me,” said M. Gonzalez, a new resident. “For five years, we lived across the street in a one-bedroom apartment with four people. This apartment complex has truly changed our lives for the better. We feel comfortable and, most importantly, safer. I’m so grateful to Klaudiah and Samantha, part of the on-site management team, for making this possible.” 

Residents have access to on-site health and wellness supportive services through a partnership with Tri-Cities Mental Health Center. The ground floor of the community also includes a 6,756-square-foot Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) operated by East Valley Community Health Center, opening in 2026, that will provide medical, dental, and mental health services to residents and the surrounding community. 

 “Our partnership with the Cesar Chavez Foundation brings vital supportive and health resources to residents which is critical to their well-being,” said Ontson Placide, executive director, Tri-Cities Mental Health Center. “This collaboration helps ensure access to quality care right where people live.” 

Chris Hartmire Plaza was made possible through a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit partners investing $75.8 million to bring high-quality affordable housing and supportive services to Pomona. Major public funding and support includes $25.4 million from the State of California through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD); $1.7 million from the City of Pomona, along with 28 project-based vouchers, eight dedicated to veterans; and $1 million from the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust.  

“Projects like Chris Hartmire Plaza show the power of partnerships in addressing California’s housing crisis,” said Gustavo Velasquez, director of HCD. “By combining state investment with local leadership and private investment, we’re helping families secure affordable and stable housing.” 

Private sector funding partners include $58 million in construction financing from Citi and $13 million in financing from UnitedHealth Group through a partnership with the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH).  

“Chris Hartmire Plaza is an inspiring example of how affordable housing, supportive services, and sustainable design can come together to strengthen communities, said Hao Li, Originating Banker, Citi Community Capital. “By helping finance projects like this, we’re advancing our shared mission to expand access to safe, high-quality housing for all Californians.” 

“At UnitedHealth Group, we understand that housing and health go hand in hand,” said Steve Cain, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of California, part of UnitedHealth Group, which has invested nearly $130 million in California to create and preserve affordable housing, working together with partners like Community Preservation Corporation and the Corporation for Supportive Housing. “Chris Hartmire Plaza underscores the importance of partnerships and our long-standing commitment to improving access to safe, stable homes that help people live healthier lives.”

“Chris Hartmire Plaza is a powerful example of how affordable housing, health care, and supportive services can come together to create lasting impact for individuals and families,” said Jason Osborn, Vice President, Mortgage Officer at The Community Preservation Corporation. “We’re proud to have partnered with the Cesar Chavez Foundation, our funding partners at UnitedHealth Group and the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and all of the local stakeholders and officials who helped make this important project possible.” 

According to state and local data, the opening of Chris Hartmire Plaza comes at a critical time for California, where the state faces a shortage of more than 1.2 million affordable homes for extremely low-income renters, and 78 percent of those households spend more than half their income on housing. In Pomona, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of renters are cost-burdened, spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent.