LINC Housing Joins the Beaumont Community to Celebrate Completion of Liberty Village; New Complex Features 38 Affordable Apartments with Services for Veterans
The community celebrates 38 news homes for formerly homeless veterans and low-income veterans. All residents also receive on-site services to help ensure housing stability.
BEAUMONT, Calif., Oct. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Riverside County has stated its commitment to ending homelessness among veterans. Liberty Village, funded in part by the County, is helping to make this promise a reality. Today, Beaumont Mayor Nancy Carroll joined the new residents, LINC Housing's team and other partners to celebrate the completion of the new community, which features one-, two- and three-bedroom homes for veterans with disabilities, chronically homeless veterans, and veteran families earning less than 60 percent of the area median income for Riverside County.
The beautiful new complex is less than a mile from the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 223, and it's in the service area of both the Loma Linda and San Bernardino Veterans Affairs Centers.
"It's time to make veterans a priority," said Rebecca Clark, LINC Housing president and CEO. "LINC is proud to join our partners in bringing this village to Beaumont. We're here to stay as we continue to provide supportive services that we know will help all the new residents build healthy, happy, productive lives."
LINC Cares, LINC's resident services program, is partnered with established agencies that serve veterans. The 21 homes reserved for veterans who have experienced homelessness receive HUD-VASH vouchers from the County of Riverside Housing Authority and case management and support services from LINC Cares and the VA Loma Linda Medical Center Case Management Program. Activities and services for all residents include, a "farm to table" nutrition program, food pantry, after-school program, free haircuts on-site by volunteer barbers, and the "Liberty Rack," which provides clothing for residents getting ready for job interviews.
Pat, a Vietnam veteran and a new resident at Liberty Village, struggled with finding a stable home after his 37-year marriage ended and he moved out of the family home. He also experienced a workplace accident that caused him to lose his job. Fortunately, along the way, he met case workers and others who wanted to help him get back on his feet. "I was really struggling on my own, so I'm grateful to everyone who helped me through the process of getting approved to move into Liberty Village," Pat said. "I'm back now! I'm paying my bills, and I've got food in the refrigerator. I have a really good apartment. It's such a relief."
In addition to the 38 homes, Liberty Village also features beautiful landscaping, an American flag, numerous community garden planters for organic planting, outdoor barbecue and picnic areas. The new community is located near Beaumont's major public bus lines as well as the Commuter Link 120 line, which has a stop at the Loma Linda VA hospital. Additionally, Liberty Village is within walking distance or a bus ride to grocery stores, public parks, pharmacies, banks, schools, major retail employment centers, and a library.
In keeping with LINC's commitment to building environmentally sustainable communities, the complex incorporates building materials that are recycled, locally produced, and contain low VOCs. The building also has high-performance windows and building envelope, and both the HVAC and water heating systems are very high efficiency. Other environmental features include low-flow plumbing fixtures, Energy Star appliances, and smart irrigation controls. Liberty Village has been registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and intends to pursue a LEED Basic certification.
The $16.4-million development was funded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development's Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program, the County of Riverside Neighborhood Stabilization Program, a construction loan from BBVA Compass, and tax credit equity from Raymond James Tax Credit Funds Inc.
The building was designed by D33 Design and Planning and constructed by Walton Construction Services. Construction began in December 2016, and residents moved in this fall.
About LINC Housing Corporation
LINC Housing, one of California's most productive nonprofit developers of affordable housing, is committed to building communities and strengthening neighborhoods for people underserved by the marketplace. LINC has helped create more than 7,800 homes in 76 communities throughout the state. The organization's properties are known for excellent design, outstanding management and life-enhancing services for its residents. LINC has nearly 35 years of service to families, seniors, people with special needs, and local governments - helping to create sustainable communities via new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, and historic preservation. Visit http://www.linchousing.org for more information.
SOURCE LINC Housing Corporation
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