CENTRAL COAST —
People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has opened its newest affordable housing development: People’s Place.
Located at 714-716 West Harvard Boulevard, People’s Place is the first affordable housing community in over 10 years in Santa Paula, and PSHH’s first new construction build in Ventura County. The development is made up of 69 one-, two- and three-bedroom units, serving households earning 30-60% of the area median income (AMI). 21 of these units are set aside for farmworker households making 30-45% of the AMI.
“We are grateful to have provided more affordable housing to the County of Ventura and thank the City of Santa Paula for their work to meet the housing needs of those in their community by asking us to come alongside them in these efforts,” said Ken Trigueiro, PSHH CEO & President. “We look forward to more projects like this one throughout the County and strengthening our community partnerships in the region as a result.”
On-site amenities at People’s Place include a community center, learning center, outdoor courtyards, onsite parking, and playground. All residents also have access to free onsite supportive services.
“It’s heartwarming to witness a positive outcome from the years of hard work in agriculture made possible by remarkable organizations like People’s Self-Help Housing,” said Sandy Enriquez, daughter of People’s Place farmworker residents. “Your commitment to creating affordable housing truly changes lives.”
The grand opening event saw many dignitaries and community partners, including Mayor Leslie Cornejo from the City of Santa Paula, and a representative from the office of State Assemblymember Steve Bennett.
“We want homes here. We want affordable housing here. We don’t just talk about it. We help our partners so that we can have affordable housing in the city,” said Mayor Leslie Cornejo, City of Santa Paula. “You need to build relationships. You need to have partnerships and that’s how these things are accomplished…We are very thrilled to have so many people finding homes, good homes, and be our new neighbors.”
People’s Place was made possible through numerous financing partners, to include California Department of Housing and Community Development, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, County of Ventura, National Equity Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, JPMorgan Chase, and Montecito Bank & Trust. The architect for the project was MDA Group and the civil engineer was Ashley & Vance Engineering.
To see photos and media from the Grand Opening, view the event album at pshhc.org/PP-GO-gallery. To learn more about PSHH, visit pshhc.org.
About People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH)
Founded in 1970, PSHH is the longest-serving nonprofit affordable housing organization on the Central Coast. With a mission of building homes and providing services to strengthen communities and change lives, PSHH serves low-income households, including families, seniors, veterans, farmworkers, those living with disabilities and the formerly homeless. It also provides homeownership opportunities through a self-help, “sweat equity” program that has seen over 1,200 homes successfully completed. PSHH has a presence in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Monterey counties, manages over 2,000 rental units, and employs over 200 staff members. PSHH acknowledges the Indigenous Peoples and unceded territories that the organization now occupies, including the YTT Northern Chumash, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash, Barbeño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, Cruzeño Chumash, and Salinan elders, current and future generations as the protectors of these lands. To read the full land acknowledgement, visit pshhc.org/IDEA. For more information about the organization, visit pshhc.org, email info@pshhc.org or phone (805) 781-3088.
To the City of Santa Paula, the many partners who helped build People’s Place from the ground up, and to those who celebrated with us at this week’s Grand Opening, we thank you for your support of this new community.
