Photo courtesy of Long Beach Development Services.
Following on the heels of the opening of the Cabrillo Gateway complex last October, city officials, Century Housing and the Long Beach Community Investment Co. celebrated on Wednesday the groundbreaking of Anchor Place—a 120-unit supportive housing development for homeless families and veterans.
“Long Beach remains dedicated to ensuring housing stability for all our residents,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement. “This development illustrates our unwavering commitment to ending homelessness and enhancing quality of life for very low-income families and veterans.”
The five-story complex—situated within the Century Villages at Cabrillo campus—will reserve 75 units for homeless veterans and set aside 45 units for extremely low-income residents. It will consist of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, extensive open space and courtyard recreational areas. Residents will also have access to comprehensive on-site supportive services, including case management, physical and mental health services, employment services, life skills training and counseling, according to a press release.
“Anchor Place is a prime example of the City’s ongoing efforts to provide affordable, safe, and secure housing,” said Councilmember Roberto Uranga. “This development will be a great addition to the Century Villages at Cabrillo campus, and further promotes vitality and livability throughout our neighborhoods.”
Officials stated rents will be subsidized through a combination of 75 project-based Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers provided by the city’s Housing Authority, and the county’s Housing for Health subsidy program.
“This is the first time that the HACLB has used VASH vouchers in support of an affordable housing development in the City,” the release stated. “The vouchers will provide $720,000 annually, or a total of $10.8 million, to ensure housing support for homeless veterans for a 15-year period.”
Anchor Place is the fifth phase of the 27-acre CVC campus development. The project includes restoring the original social hall at the adjacent Savannah Cabrillo Naval Housing complex, officials stated.
Construction on the site began mid-November 2015 with grading, according to Long Beach Development Services spokeswoman Jacqueline Medina. Funding for the project is provided by loans from the Affordable Housing Program and the county’s Mental Health Services, as well as funds from HUD, Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, the county’s Community Development Commission, the Home Depot Foundation and Wells Fargo.
CVC is a supportive housing community that is home to more than 1,300 residents, including veterans, homeless families, and those at-risk of becoming homeless.