affordable housing – Page 2 – Cesar Chavez Foundation

Cesar Chavez Foundation Celebrates the Grand Opening of Plaza Ortiz II in El Monte, CA

June 5, 2024, by CCF

The Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF), the City of El Monte, and stakeholders including Boston Financial, JP Morgan Chase, and the California Department of Housing and Community Development, celebrated the grand opening of Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II, a new affordable housing community for low-income families in El Monte, California.

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II is CCF’s second project in the City of El Monte and honors a 19-year-old native of El Monte killed during the Korean War. It is the second property commemorating the young soldier, whose remains were returned nearly 70 years after being reported missing in action.

In attendance, El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona remarked, “One of the things that warms my heart is the addition to the beautiful housing is a Si Se Puede Learning Center. The commitment to families and children is one of the missions of the Cesar Chavez Foundation and one the council values here in the City of El Monte—providing a brighter future for children and families. Families don’t have to go elsewhere for their children to receive additional support by having those opportunities within this development.”

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, spaces for residential services, a recreational meeting space, conference and meeting rooms. The property also features a new mural by artist John Park, “Celebración,” paying homage to the city’s farm worker history and Latino culture.

Marlee Martinez, who currently resides in Plaza Ortiz II and was raised in El Monte, has recently moved back from the high desert. She commented, “That’s the whole point of affordable housing…it allows people to thrive in the communities they grew up in and continue to do so. It has been very helpful for my family, as we are finally close together.”

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II is CCF’s second project in the Main Street Specific Plan corridor in the City of El Monte. CCF’s first project, Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Oritz, is located east of the new development at 10950 Railroad Street and provides 53 units of affordable housing for veterans and families.

Cesar Chavez Foundation and Housing Authority of the County of Kern Break Ground on High-quality Affordable Housing Community in Bakersfield, Calif

October 30, 2023, by CCF

Cesar Chavez Foundation and Housing Authority of the County of Kern Break Ground on High-quality Affordable Housing Community in Bakersfield, California

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (October 30, 2023) – The Cesar Chavez Foundation and Housing Authority of the County of Kern announced the groundbreaking of a new affordable housing community in Bakersfield, Calif. Renaissance at Baker will create 85 units of affordable housing for low-income families and persons with disabilities, including individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The groundbreaking marks the start of construction of the 85 units, comprised of 37 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units and 26 three-bedroom units reserved for families earning between 30%-60% AMI. Forty-two of the units will be reserved for persons with disabilities with incomes at or below 30% AMI. The development will seek a highly sustainable LEED-certification and is designed by Y&M Architects. It will feature an outdoor space spread out over two courtyards that includes spaces for sitting and a life-size chess area. The total development cost for the project is $48.5 million.

The Housing Authority of the County of Kern, a local government agency providing safe, affordable housing to thousands of Kern County residents through special programs serving families, individuals, senior citizens, veterans, persons with disabilities, homeless, farm workers and emancipated foster youth, will provide residents with on-site service programs.

“Renaissance at Baker will address a significant shortage of affordable housing and the need to assist Kern County’s homeless and chronically homeless,” said Paul Chavez, President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. “Our mission is to improve the lives of working families, and this development is a step towards achieving that goal in an area where my father began his work more than 60 years ago.”

“We’re pleased to partner with the City and Cesar Chavez Foundation to help revitalize the Old Town Kern neighborhood and bring much needed affordable housing and services to the area,” said Stephen Pelz, Executive Director at Housing Authority of the County of Kern.

“Building new affordable housing for the most vulnerable of our community in a once vacant lot is an investment in the wellbeing of Bakersfield residents and aligns with the City of Bakersfield’s revitalization efforts for Old Town Kern,” said Bakersfield Councilman Andrae Gonzales.

Grand Opening of Plaza Ortiz in El Monte

June 30, 2022, by CCF

Cesar Chavez Foundation announces grand opening of high-quality affordable housing community for homeless veterans & low-income residents in El Monte named for U.S. Army Cpl. ‘Mac’ Ortiz Jr. who died during Korean War in 1950

El Monte, Calif. (June 29, 2022) – The Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF) held a grand opening celebration on June 29 for a new affordable housing community for homeless veterans and low-income residents in El Monte. The property is named Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz, 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. The 53 units of housing for homeless veterans and low-income households features onsite social services provided in partnership with Step Up, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit delivering compassionate support to people experiencing serious mental health conditions, and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness so they can recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community. The property also features a new mural by artist Ignacio Gomez honoring Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz and other community heroes.

The project houses a Si Se Puede Learning Center, Chavez Foundation’s flagship afterschool program for young residents and 6,849 square feet of space for residential services, recreational meeting space, conference and meeting rooms, and staff office space as well as to provide services and resources for homeless veterans.

Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz joined the U.S. Army at age 17. He was serving during the Korean War, assigned to an M-19, small anti-aircraft tank with an exposed cockpit in the 7th Infantry Division when he went missing while in combat in North Korea on Dec. 2, 1950. Barely past his 19th birthday, Cpl. Ortiz’s remains were never recovered. DNA testing confirmed he was among the remains of 55 U.S. service members turned over to the U.S. by North Korea almost 70 years later in 2019. He was brought home, buried in Riverside National Cemetery, and posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

Grand Opening of Los Portales de Lena Guerrero in Austin

June 10, 2022, by CCF

Cesar Chavez Foundation announces grand opening of high-quality affordable housing community in Austin named for the late Texas legislator Lena Guerrero

Austin, TX (June 10, 2022) – The Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF) held a grand opening celebration on June 10 for a new affordable housing community in Austin. Los Portales de Lena Guerrero, named for former community activist and railroad commissioner Lena Guerrero, features 97 units of affordable housing for families including four permanent supportive units for transitional-aged youth in partnership with Lifeworks, an Austin-based nonprofit dedicated to transitioning youth and families from crisis to safety and success.

“We’re pleased to open our our second affordable housing community in Austin to address the needs of Latinos and working families. It’s fitting to name this property after Lena Guerrero, a positive force in the community who fought tirelessly for farmworkers and the disenfranchised,” said Paul Chavez, President, Cesar Chavez Foundation. “She embodied the values of our organization’s founder, civil rights and farm labor leader Cesar Chavez.”

The community houses a Si Se Puede Learning Center, CCF’s flagship afterschool program available to young residents and features a picnic area, playground and multi-use community space as well as provide housing and resources for transitional-aged youth in the Austin area.

The property is named after Lena Guerrero, whose work championed the rights of farmworkers. She was the second Latina elected to the Texas Legislature where she was known as one of the state’s most effective lawmakers. In 1991, she became the first woman and first Latina to serve on the Railroad Commission of Texas where she led the effort to help independent oil and gas producers increase production in Texas at a time when the industry was struggling, and was a strong advocate for the use of alternative fuels.

Cesar Chavez Foundation hosts Covid-19 vaccine event at its affordable housing community in Fresno

June 21, 2021, by CCF

The Foundation will partner with the UFW Foundation to provide vaccines to community

Fresno, Calif. (June 21, 2021) – The Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF), in partnership with the UFW Foundation, will host a vaccine clinic at its newest affordable housing community in Fresno on June 22 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will take place at Las Palmas de Sal Gonzales and vaccines will be available to members of the community at no cost with no appointment required.

“The Cesar Chavez Foundation is looking forward to once again partnering with the UFW Foundation to host a vaccine event at our newest affordable housing community in Fresno,” said Paul Chavez, President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. “The Foundation is dedicated to working with its partners to ensure that as many people as possible have access to vaccines, particularly the most vulnerable in our communities.”

The Cesar Chavez Foundation has hosted dozens of vaccine events at its properties in California and Arizona. As a result of CCF’s efforts, thousands of people have been vaccinated. The Foundation will continue to partner with the UFW Foundation throughout the summer to provide vaccines to communities across California.

CCF previously partnered with the UFW Foundation and the UFW to vaccinate thousands of farm workers in March and April at the historic 40 Acres in Delano, Calif., which is owned and managed by the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

Where: Las Palmas de Sal Gonzales, Sr. – 5070 East Kings Canyon Road Fresno, CA 93727

When: June 22 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tag: affordable housing

Cesar Chavez Foundation Celebrates the Grand Opening of Plaza Ortiz II in El Monte, CA

Cesar Chavez Foundation and Housing Authority of the County of Kern Break Ground on High-quality Affordable Housing Community in Bakersfield, Calif

Grand Opening of Plaza Ortiz in El Monte

Grand Opening of Los Portales de Lena Guerrero in Austin

Cesar Chavez Foundation hosts Covid-19 vaccine event at its affordable housing community in Fresno

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