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Tag: affordable housing

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  • Cesar Chavez Foundation > affordable housing
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Boston Financial Announced as Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards

March 12, 2025, by CCF

We are proud to celebrate Boston Financial, a presenting sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards.

At the Cesar Chavez Foundation, we carry on Cesar’s life’s work of uplifting and transforming Latino and working families by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural, and community needs. We are committed to creating opportunities that empower people to thrive on all fronts.

For almost 60 years, Boston Financial has been at the forefront of affordable housing capital solutions and investment management, creating hundreds of thousands of affordable housing opportunities nationwide. Boston Financial is America’s largest syndicator of affordable housing and envisions a future where everyone has a home. With each investment, they are steadily working toward this transformative goal.

“Boston Financial could not be more proud to serve as a presenting sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards,” said Roy Faerber, Senior Managing Director at Boston Financial. “There is an undeniable correlation between stable housing for families and the health, educational achievement, and economic opportunity for an entire community. We have immense respect for the decades of work that the Cesar Chavez Foundation has put into raising up communities and bringing the dignity of affordable housing to thousands of families.”

Boston Financial has been an instrumental partner in the creation of the Chavez Foundation’s newest affordable housing community, Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II—a high-quality, service-enhanced community for working families in El Monte, California.

Plaza Ortiz II, named in honor of the 19-year-old El Monte native who was killed during the Korean War and whose remains were returned nearly 70 years after he was reported missing in action, offers 53 units of 100 percent affordable housing, along with community services such as the Si Se Puede Learning Center, the Chavez Foundation’s flagship after-school program for K-5 students.

The combined efforts of the Chavez Foundation and Boston Financial have had a positive and lasting impact on the El Monte community, including residents like Marlee Martinez. “Living in Plaza Ortiz has positively changed my family’s life. Our new home has brought us closer together and provided great educational and healthcare opportunities” said Marlee.

“Affordable housing is not just about developing housing; it’s about building thriving communities. Partners like Boston Financial, with their expertise and dedication to affordable housing investments, play a crucial role in ensuring long-term, sustainable solutions. Their commitment to fostering economic growth and stability within communities helps create environments where residents can truly thrive. Together with the residents, they lay the foundation for transformative change, setting the standard for what can be achieved both individually and as a community” shared Alfredo Izmajtovich, Vice President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s Housing and Economic Development Fund.

We are thrilled to have Boston Financial as a presenting sponsor for the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards and celebrate their commitment to positive change.

We look forward to our continued partnership as we work to achieve our shared mission.

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Honoring Cesar Chavez: The Legacy & Impact of the Cesar Chavez Foundation

February 25, 2025, by CCF

As we celebrate Cesar Chavez Month, we reflect on his lasting legacy and how his work continues through the Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF). Founded to uphold his vision of justice and empowerment, the foundation focuses on education, affordable housing, media, and preserving Cesar’s legacy—ensuring his mission thrives for generations.

Education Fund: Educating Hearts & Minds

In the 1960s, Chávez and his colleagues created the Huelga School in Delano, providing farmworkers’ children with access to education during the grape strike. Later, he established a Montessori school at La Paz for movement staff families.

The Education Fund continues this commitment today by providing diverse, culturally responsive programs in under-resourced communities. Its goal is to impact one million students by 2028.

Housing & Economic Development: Building Stronger Communities

Chavez often called migrant farmworkers “the original homeless.” Having experienced this struggle firsthand, he prioritized affordable housing through what is now the Housing & Economic Development Fund.

The foundation’s first housing project, the Paulo Agbayani Retirement Village, provided Filipino farmworkers with dignity and stability. Today, CCF manages over $900 million in affordable housing, transforming the lives of thousands of families, seniors, and youth.

Chavez Media: Amplifying Voices

Recognizing the power of media to mobilize change, Chavez established Radio Campesina, its flagship program, in 1983 to entertain and instill a sense of community among Latinos and working families.

Today, Chavez Media reaches millions of multicultural audiences across multiple touchpoints, engaging a multi-generational, multicultural audience. Its abiding mission is to promote Cesar’s legacy by motivating people to use the resources available and be active participants in shaping their lives and communities.

National Chavez Center: Preserving a Legacy

The National Chavez Center ensures that Cesar’s legacy remains a beacon for future generations. From national days of service to heritage summits and the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, it serves as a place of education, reflection, and community-building.

La Paz, where Chavez spent his final years, continues to embody his principles of nonviolence, self-sacrifice, and service—a lasting tribute to his life’s work.

Be Part of This Legacy

Cesar Chavez believed in the power of community. Join us in celebrating his life and ensuring his mission continues.

📩 Join our community! Subscribe to our newsletter for inspiring updates from the Chavez Foundation today. Subscribe now!

Together, we keep the movement alive. ¡Sí, Se Puede!

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Chavez Foundation Marks Groundbreaking for Affordable Housing Communities in Houston, TX

September 11, 2024, by CCF

Houston, TX – The Cesar Chavez Foundation, in partnership with Harris County Housing & Community Development, the Harris County Redevelopment Authority, and the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation, celebrated the start of new construction for much-needed affordable housing.

The contributions of this partnership will allow the Cesar Chavez Foundation, a vertically integrated nonprofit developer, to develop, construct, and operate the properties and maintain its affordability in perpetuity, as it does with all its properties. In keeping with CCF’s tradition, the housing communities are named after local civil rights champions. Construction is expected to be completed by ­­­­­­­­­­­December 2026.

“These projects are a critical addition to Houston, and we are honored to provide affordable housing for families and seniors in need. It’s fitting to name these properties after Frumencio Reyes Jr. and Felix Z. Fraga as a tribute to their relentless efforts and positive impact on the local community,” said Manuel Bernal, President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. “Our mission is to uplift working families, and these developments represent a major advancement towards fulfilling that mission. Frumencio and Felix embodied Cesar Chavez’s values of social justice and community empowerment, and their dedication to creating lasting change continues to inspire us.”

The Urban Edge reported that “There are just over 33,000 affordable and available places to rent for the more than 217,000 extremely low-income renters in the area. About 83% of extremely low-income households are severely cost-burdened. The Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s 2023 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report found that from 2015 to 2021, monthly rent prices outpaced median household income increases.”

“Harris County Housing & Community Development (HCD) is proud to partner alongside the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Harris County Redevelopment Authority, and the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation to provide vital affordable housing to low-to-moderate-income households. These projects will forever change the lives of many people who will benefit from stable, affordable housing in Harris County. The impact of providing affordable housing in Harris County is felt throughout the entire community and will have lasting effects for many years to come,” says Thao Costis, Executive Director of Harris County Housing & Community Development.

HCD has played a pivotal role in securing and investing in affordable housing for the underserved residents of Harris County. To date, HCD has contributed about $360 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Community Development Block Grants – Disaster Recovery funds toward safe, affordable multi-housing projects in Harris County. It continues to make strides to invest in affordable housing, so no underserved residents are left behind.

Villa Eterna Sonrisa Felix Z. Fraga Details:

The Villa Eterna Sonrisa Felix Z. Fraga is a new construction, senior-focused (55 years old +) apartment building that will contain 99 units: 98 one-bedroom units designated for seniors and one two-bedroom unit for the property manager. The development will be a four-story elevator building located at the intersection of Tidwell Road and Bauman Road in the city of Houston and Harris County Precinct 2. The site is conveniently located near an accessible bus stop between I-45 and I-69. The property will include a Si Se Puede Senior Center.

Frumencio Reyes Jr. Plaza Details:

The Frumencio Reyes Jr. Plaza is a new affordable apartment building that will consist of 120 units. The building will offer a variety of unit types, including efficiency, studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, which will be affordable for individuals with incomes at 30, 50, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income. The development will be a four-story elevator building located at the intersection of Upland Drive and Timberline Road in the Spring Branch neighborhood in the City of Houston and Precinct 4 of Harris County. The site is conveniently located near I-10 and Sam Houston Tollway, providing easy access to the rest of the city. It is also located near a mix of single-family homes, multi-family developments, schools, bus stops, and services. The property will include a Si Se Puede Learning Center.

About Cesar Chavez Foundation

At the Cesar Chavez Foundation, our mission is to carry on Cesar’s life’s work of uplifting the lives of Latinos and working families by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural, and community needs. The National Chavez Center, an arm of the Chavez Foundation, promotes and preserves the legacy of Cesar Chavez across the nation and manages historical properties near Delano and at Keene, Calif., home to the César E. Chávez National Monument. Follow the Chavez Foundation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. For more information, visit chavezfoundation.org.

About Harris County Housing & Community Development

Harris County Housing & Community Development strives to strengthen communities by investing in housing, infrastructure, and services that promote resiliency. It seeks to have safe, sustainable communities where everyone thrives and no one is left behind. Learn more at hcd.harriscountytx.gov.

About Harris County Redevelopment Authority

The Harris County Redevelopment Authority (HCRDA) promotes, encourages and facilitates economic development, community investment, infrastructure investment and revitalization programs on behalf of the County. The HCRDA is the corporate operating entity for the County-led Greater Houston TIRZ (TIRZ 24), which encompasses approximately 8,000 acres.

About Harris County Housing Finance Corporation

The Harris County Housing Finance Corporation (HCHFC) creates affordable housing opportunities for the citizens of Harris County. The Corporation is authorized to issue debt for the purpose of supporting affordable single-family home mortgages or interests and providing financing for multi-family housing projects for low and moderate-income owners. The Corporation is led by a nine-member Board of Directors appointed by Harris County Commissioners Court.

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Groundbreaking Celebration for Esteban E. Torres Village in Baldwin Park, CA

July 24, 2024, by CCF

The Cesar Chavez Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Esteban E. Torres Village, a new affordable housing project in Baldwin Park. This project aims to provide not just homes but hope and opportunity to the community. The village is named in honor of the late Congressman Esteban E. Torres, a dedicated advocate for Latino civil rights and empowerment. It is designed to offer safe, affordable housing for low-income families with 51 units dedicated to serving these vulnerable populations, the project is a testament to the power of collaboration and a shared vision of social justice and community support.

Features and Amenities

The Esteban E. Torres Village will encompass a total of 6,362 square feet of space dedicated to residential services, including:

  • Recreational and Meeting Spaces: Two courtyards, two central laundry facilities, property management offices, meeting rooms, and spaces for social services.
  • Educational and Social Services: The village will offer vital social services, including programming lounges, an educational space, a community garden, and warming kitchens for cooking demonstrations. It will also provide mental health care referrals, education, employment training, and more.
  • Outdoor Spaces: With over 5,693 square feet of passive open space, residents will enjoy beautifully landscaped courtyards, an occupiable roof deck, indoor recreational rooms, BBQ grills, and a community garden for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Watch Highlights of the Esteban E. Torres Village Groundbreaking

 

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Resident Impact Stories: The Martinez Family’s Journey to Plaza Ortiz

June 25, 2024, by Vanessa Gonzalez

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II is CCF’s second project in the City of El Monte and honors 19-year-old native of El Monte killed during the Korean War. In 2019, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II provides 53 units of 100% affordable housing and community services, including a Si Se Puede Learning Center, Chavez Foundation’s flagship afterschool program for K-5 students, residential services spaces, a recreational meeting space, and conference and meeting rooms.

Marlee Martinez, who grew up in El Monte and has recently returned from the high desert, now lives in Plaza Ortiz II. She shares how relocating to Plaza Ortiz has significantly transformed her life and her family’s.

In her own words:

“Living in Plaza Ortiz has positively changed my family’s life. Our new home has brought us closer together and provided great educational and healthcare opportunities. The community is welcoming, and the secure apartments give us peace of mind. Having my mother close by has been a great support. Moving here has allowed me to focus on my studies and has brought us new opportunities and support. I highly recommend Plaza Ortiz to anyone looking for a welcoming community, better educational opportunities, and improved healthcare access.”

Watch the video below to hear from Marlee and learn how the Chavez Foundation inspires and transforms communities through affordable housing.

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Press Inquiries:

Suzy Silvestre

Director of Strategic Communications

ssilvestre@chavezfoundation.org

 

Marc Grossman

Spokesperson

mgrossman@chavezfoundation.org

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