AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUCCESS STORY: AMERICAN FAMILY HOUSING1.6[1].jpg

Mission: Founded in 1985, American Family Housing (AFH) is a nonprofit organization that provides a continuum of housing and a broad spectrum of services to vulnerable populations facing barriers to achieving housing stability, including veterans and adults with disabilities and mental illness. AFH operates 63 housing sites with 283 apartments that serve more than 1,300 adults and children each year in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. AFH is committed to permanently ending the cycle of homelessness by helping low income families and adults achieve a self-sustaining way of life and become active members of their communities.

Story: Orange County and Los Angeles have made great strides toward providing permanent housing for the homeless, yet Southern California is seeing an increase in homelessness, particularly among veterans. With some 1.4 million individuals at risk, AFH broke ground in 2016 on a first-of-its kind multifamily housing project called Potter’s Lane located in Midway City, California. With a targeted February 2017 completion date, the ultra-green, energy-efficient and sustainable housing site will fulfill one of the community’s greatest needs: permanent housing for chronically homeless veterans. Built using GrowthPoint Structures, whose innovative construction methods will up cycle steel shipping containers to create 16 beautiful 480-square-foot living spaces designed to complement the surrounding environment. AFH employed many people throughout the process, including over 120 local construction workers and over 250 volunteers. Designed with community input, Potter’s Lane will include a community room, fitness court and landscaped gardens. In addition to housing, AFH is also providing wrap-around services to help these veterans achieve stability and self-sufficiency. HUD provided AFH with operational assistance including Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers for eight of the 16 apartments. AFH is also master leasing seven apartments to the Illumination Foundation for its HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) Bonus Project, which provides HUD dollars for services and rental assistance.

City: Midway City
Congressional District: CA-48
Use of Funds: Rental assistance
Federal Program: Coc: $117,600, VASH:$120,672/year
Total Federal Dollars: $238,272
Affordable homes created or preserved: 16

Contact: Donna Gallup
P: 714-897-3221
E: dgallup@afhusa.org
W: afhusa.org