NEWS

Affordable Housing For Women and Children

PROTOTYPES has completed the construction of a 32-unit affordable housing development for women and their children with special needs. A number of public and private entities joined together to provide the funding needed to make this project possible.

The 32-unit apartment building was constructed on the site of PROTOTYPES Outpatient Center in Pomona, California and includes 16 units of transitional housing and 16 units of permanent housing. Residents are homeless women and their children who have been affected by substance abuse, mental illness and/or trauma, including domestic violence. The project is innovative in several ways. The first innovation is the concept of a "therapeutic community" that combines permanent-placement affordable housing with comprehensive on-site supportive services. The resulting community can support and empower its residents to overcome a myriad of challenges. The second innovative aspect of this project is a housing development that is a model for sustainable ("green") building principles in affordable housing. By following sustainable building practices, the housing units are good for people and good for the environment, while offering the economic advantage of lower maintenance costs.

"PROTOTYPES has been working hard on this development for three years," Vivian Brown, PROTOTYPES CEO said. "We are overjoyed that the funding community, both public agencies and foundations, recognized the importance of this project and the services that PROTOTYPES provides."

PROTOTYPES is grateful for several major foundation gifts received for this project. Support has been provided by The Ahmanson Foundation, The Rose Hills Foundation and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Each of these foundations has made prior gifts to PROTOTYPES for capital campaigns. "We feel so honored that all of these important foundations in Southern California have recognized PROTOTYPES' work by lending their support. It would not have been possible to develop this project without this support from the private sector," said Maryann Fraser, Executive Vice President of PROTOTYPES.

The project has also benefited from the support of a number of public agencies including the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development through its Multi Family Housing Program and its Emergency Housing Assistance Program, which are programs funded by voter-approved Proposition 46 bond funds. Funds were also provided by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority through the HUD Supportive Housing Program and the Los Angeles Community Development Commission through its City of Industry Loan program.

Important funding was received through the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits program with an equity investment provided by Enterprise Community Investment and the project received support from the Federal Home Loan Bank through its Affordable Housing Program. The construction loan for the project was provided by Bank of America and Northern Trust Bank.

Affordable Housing Creating a Unique 'Therapeutic Community'

The building consists of four one-bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom units. There are community areas for recreational, educational, and social activities. These activities will include: monthly potluck dinners, holiday and birthday celebrations, and presentations by outside community speakers. The building also houses offices for social services staff. A residents' council assists the professional property management company with the oversight of the building operations and social activities.

"Since the founding of the agency we have always known that affordable housing was one service that was desperately needed by the clientele we serve," Vivian Brown, Ph.D., CEO and founder of PROTOTYPES said. "The agency was founded based on offering a continuum of service, and providing long-term housing, at affordable rates, is an important element in achieving that mission. We are now able to offer this vital component."

The Living Center was completed in September 2006.

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Pictures from the Groundbreaking Ceremony held September 14, 2005

Pictures of construction under way; early Spring 2006

 

Pictures of construction under way; June 2006