Courtesy image.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has been awarded $34,049,563 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) through its Disaster Recovery Multifamily Housing Accelerator Program (DR-ACCEL). These funds will be used to bring more housing to the city of Atascadero with PSHH’s Del Rio Ridge project.
DR-ACCEL bridges the gap in financing for projects ready to begin construction, but that are halted during periods of disaster. In this case, the impacts of the severe winter storms in December 2022 through April 2023 resulted in unmet recovery needs from the floods, in areas already suffering from a critical shortage of affordable housing. Del Rio Ridge was one of the developments to have paused during this time.
During selections for the awards, PSHH was recognized as the highest-scoring applicant and received the full amount requested. Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation additionally received an $18,500,000 award for their 49-unit project in Ojai.
“These projects demonstrate how state and federal funding programs can work in concert to help devastated communities recover and rebuild in the wake of natural disasters,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “While delays can increase costs until a project is no longer feasible, we were able to keep these developments on track, bringing affordable new homes to two communities who so urgently need them.”
PSHH’s Del Rio Ridge will bring 42 affordable one-, two-, and three-bedroom units to the neighborhood, with some set aside for veterans and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This new development will provide residents with a community center, barbeque area, laundry facilities, and children’s playground. Residents will also have access to onsite property management and supportive services.
The project is intentionally created to integrate with its surrounding community both in design and its target demographic, taking an underdeveloped area and transforming it into a safe, walkable neighborhood. The project falls within the City’s Del Rio Road Commercial Area Specific Plan, conveniently located near new amenities to include a grocery store and proposed RV park and motel. The project previously received $1,758,900 million from HCD’s Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program.
“This funding is critical to keeping this project moving through our pipeline,” said PSHH CEO & President Ken Trigueiro. “We are grateful to HCD’s continued investment in getting Del Rio Ridge across the finish line and bringing much needed support for veterans and those experiencing homelessness in our community.”
Construction for Del Rio Ridge is expected to begin by January 2026, in line with the award requirements to start work within 180 days.
To learn more about PSHH, please 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, 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 250 team members. PSHH acknowledges the Indigenous Peoples and unceded territories that our organization now occupies. We recognize 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.