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Real Life Stories
 Profile: AHP Grant Plants Seeds of Hope
Product: The Affordable Housing Program (AHP) provides grants to facilitate the development of affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for very low- to moderate-income households. The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco provided a $248,000 AHP grant through its member, Downey Savings & Loan Association.
Partners: WORKS, ONE Company, Cal Poly Pomona-Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, Downey Savings & Loan Association
Amidst gardens that teem with lush tomatoes, carrots, chili peppers, pumpkins, and zucchini, hope sprouts from the Park William Apartments in Pomona, California. Quietly nestled at the end of a tree-lined street full of well-kept, single-family homes, this tightly knit development where tenants grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs doesn’t even show a hint of the gang activity for which it was once notorious. "This place is a blessing," says Jose Guzman, who lives at Park William with his wife, Lucy, and their three children, Melissa, Xylene, and Joshua.
Thanks in part to the collaborative efforts of Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge, and Services (WORKS) and Opportunities for Neighborhood Empowerment (ONE) Company, the complex underwent a two-year renovation that included replacement of electrical and water systems, beautifully refashioned landscaped outdoor areas with barbecue pits, a children’s play area, and a community center. The community center includes a recreation room and a state-of-the-art computer lab that is a hub of activity for Park William residents. The computer lab boasts a significant software library, including typing aids, math and science tutorials, and a program that improves the English skills of those who speak it as a second language. "I can already type without looking," says Melissa, noticeably excited to share one of the skills she’s learned at the lab.
The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at nearby California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) was asked to design a landscape that would contribute to Park William’s energy-efficiency. The "edible landscape" now includes a dazzling array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs used for spices and medicinal purposes. Most of the residents are Latino, and the trees and shrubs in the common areas grow produce commonly used in cuisine from a variety of Latin American countries. Many of the residents eagerly share and trade what they harvest with their neighbors.
June 2004
Back to Real Life Stories
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Real Life Stories
Profile: AHP Grant Plants Seeds of Hope
Product: The Affordable Housing Program (AHP) provides grants to facilitate the development of affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for very low- to moderate-income households. The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco provided a $248,000 AHP grant through its member, Downey Savings & Loan Association.
Partners: WORKS, ONE Company, Cal Poly Pomona-Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, Downey Savings & Loan Association
Amidst gardens that teem with lush tomatoes, carrots, chili peppers, pumpkins, and zucchini, hope sprouts from the Park William Apartments in Pomona, California. Quietly nestled at the end of a tree-lined street full of well-kept, single-family homes, this tightly knit development where tenants grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs doesn’t even show a hint of the gang activity for which it was once notorious. "This place is a blessing," says Jose Guzman, who lives at Park William with his wife, Lucy, and their three children, Melissa, Xylene, and Joshua.
Thanks in part to the collaborative efforts of Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge, and Services (WORKS) and Opportunities for Neighborhood Empowerment (ONE) Company, the complex underwent a two-year renovation that included replacement of electrical and water systems, beautifully refashioned landscaped outdoor areas with barbecue pits, a children’s play area, and a community center. The community center includes a recreation room and a state-of-the-art computer lab that is a hub of activity for Park William residents. The computer lab boasts a significant software library, including typing aids, math and science tutorials, and a program that improves the English skills of those who speak it as a second language. "I can already type without looking," says Melissa, noticeably excited to share one of the skills she’s learned at the lab.
The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at nearby California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) was asked to design a landscape that would contribute to Park William’s energy-efficiency. The "edible landscape" now includes a dazzling array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs used for spices and medicinal purposes. Most of the residents are Latino, and the trees and shrubs in the common areas grow produce commonly used in cuisine from a variety of Latin American countries. Many of the residents eagerly share and trade what they harvest with their neighbors.
June 2004
Back to Real Life Stories
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