As housing costs rise across California and the Central Valley, new affordable housing projects have been launched to support farmworkers and low-income families. Despite these efforts, officials and developers say that more investment is needed to meet the demand for housing in the region.
Tom Collishaw, president and CEO of Self-Help Enterprises, described the main challenge facing affordable housing developers. “For an affordable housing developer like Self-Help Enterprises, I think the biggest challenge continues to be competing for scarce resources at the state level,” Collishaw said. “Some of those resources are frankly tilted toward more urban environments, so we’re constantly competing.”
In March, Self-Help Enterprises opened Guardian Village in Reedley, a $25 million project with 48 affordable units for low-income families, agricultural workers, and veterans. Fifteen of these units were reserved for farmworker households. “It derives from the historic use of this property that served the veterans in the Reedley area for many years, making it a place that honors both service and sacrifice,” Collishaw said in March.
Funding for Guardian Village came from public and private sources. The California Department of General Services provided the property under a 99-year lease for $1. The state’s Department of Housing and Community Development granted $6 million, and UnitedHealth Group invested $14.4 million in equity and supports on-site services with an annual $100,000 contribution.
Rep. Jim Costa (D–Fresno) highlighted the importance of rural affordable housing at the project’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Today marks a major milestone for our farmworker community and their families,” Costa said. “Our farmworkers and farmers are the backbone of the Central Valley and our nation. Increasing the production of affordable housing must remain a priority for those who put food on Americans’ dinner plates.”
In July, Self-Help Enterprises opened Cherry Crossing in Sanger, a $50 million complex with 72 units, 18 of which are reserved for farmworker families. Funding sources included the Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program, Fresno County’s ARPA and HOME funds, and a $22 million equity investment from U.S. Bank. The Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program, established in the 1980s, supports affordable housing and homeownership for agricultural workers.
Collishaw stressed the urgency of the housing shortage. “In Fresno County alone, we are currently over 35,000 affordable homes short of our housing needs,” he said. “During such a crisis — the worst I’ve seen in my 45-year career in housing — there are only two categories: those who are helping and those who are not.”
Fresno Housing has also contributed to expanding farmworker housing. In July, it opened La Joya Commons in Firebaugh, a 68-unit affordable apartment complex. “This was once dilapidated farm labor housing that was built well over 50 years ago,” said Michael Duarte, chief real estate officer for Fresno Housing. “In this particular footprint stood 34 units. We demolished those and have built 68 beautiful units in our phase one, and we have a phase two plan that we’re actively pursuing.” Of these units, 41 are reserved for households with agricultural-related income.
La Joya Commons was funded by a combination of sources, including the Joe Serna Farmworker Housing Grant Program, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, U.S. Bank, and the California Community Reinvestment Corporation. U.S. Bank invested $65 million in the project.
Collishaw also pointed out that fear of immigration enforcement continues to impact farmworker communities throughout the Central Valley.
