Eden Housing

Wednesday's What a View brought to you by The Altenheim. The Altenheim (German for Elder’s Home), is a senior residence on a six-acre campus in Oakland’s Dimond district. The community was founded in the 1890s by immigrants from German-speaking countries, and the structures mostly date from the 1910s. The Altenheim historic rehabilitation project restored the beautiful campus and 3-acre gardens, part of the cultural legacy of the home and neighborhood, while also creating modern, affordable apartments for low-income seniors. The property is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was chosen to receive the 2007 Partners in Preservation Award from the Oakland Heritage Alliance.

Our annual Resident Satisfaction Survey is underway. Site staff are working diligently to ensure a high rate of resident participation. The team at Alta Mira flexed their creative muscles and came up with a brilliant way to get the word out to residents while supporting and uplifting them. They created gift bags for each household that include survey information.

A year ago this week, Eden Housing implemented COVID-19 protocols that moved much of our central office functions to our homes. We changed our routines for working at our sites and with Eden residents. While I can’t believe it’s been a year, I think it’s important to mark the occasion. Thank you to our staff, our partners, our advocates, our elected officials, the residents, and our supporters for all you’ve done to help Eden continue its mission through what has been a wild ride.

At today’s press event organized by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, our fearless leader Linda Mandolini spoke in support of building more housing. She was there as a member of a coalition of housing advocates urging the city to prioritize agendizing a discussion for Santa Clara City Council to allow housing and development to proceed in the area.

Throwback Thursday to Eden's 2019 Howard T. Collins Scholarship Celebration. #DYK last year Eden awarded nearly $100,000 to resident scholars? When we invest in our residents’ higher education dreams, the benefits are felt far beyond their individual diplomas. Their families are more stable, their long-term career prospects improve, and our communities thrive. We can't wait to open this year's applications in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

We are proud to announce that our newest resident services program is available to all residents of Eden Housing properties. Renter Advantage helps you improve your credit and get back on track with your finances.

There are three new programs across the County of San Diego - Government to assist with rental and utility payments to ease the financial burden for renters with earnings below 80% of the Area Median Income or those who experienced a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More information in the link.

Eden Housing is closed to observe Cesar Chavez day today, March 31. Cesar Chavez was an advocate for economic equity and was heavily involved in creating labor unions that helped struggling farmers. In recognition of his nonviolent activism and support of working-class people, Chavez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Cesar Chavez As shown through our new strategic plan and mission statement, equity and opportunity for all is the main focus of Eden Housing’s mission. Exemplifying this, Camphora Apartments was rebuilt in 2016. What was once a run-down labor camp is now a pillar of the community. Camphora is now home to 44 hardworking farmworker families.

A year ago, we were scrambling to move our first groundbreaking to a virtual platform. The event was for Parrott Street our most recent project in San Leandro. The site looks a lot different now. What was an empty lot near San Leandro BART is looking more like something that will provide 65 affordable homes for veterans and families. Thank you to our tremendous contractor BBI Construction, we have a fun slide show to showcase the progress.

We couldn't say it better ourselves about our proposed development in downtown Livermore, "Affordable housing projects, such as the upcoming Eden Downtown Housing in Livermore, are envisioned to provide safe and habitable spaces for our city's most crucial workforce teachers, nurse assistants, police cadets, and our downtown's restaurant workers. These are the people who make our everyday Livermore life so much easier for us. This workforce, which is continually at-risk of becoming unhoused and falling through the cracks, represents not just individuals; it, in fact, represents households, sometimes supported by a single-income parent, with children to nurture, raise, and prepare for the future."

Corsair Flats, Eden's newest community in Alameda, has an opening! Head of household must be 62 years of age or older & a veteran at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. See below for income limits and more info.

Election Day is only *six days* away! Youth residents in Eden's after-school programs created posters to remind their neighbors to vote. Check out this one from a resident at Sobrato Family Apartments in Gilroy. For more information on voting, visit https://sos.ca.gov/elections

Did you know that Eden offers virtual financial coaching at some of its properties? Reach out to your resident services coordinator if you are interested in Eden Savers. You may be eligible to join the newest cohort and learn how to grow your piggy bank.

Eden's San Diego staff are distributing flyers in support of Measure A! Measure A creates enough affordable homes so that every veteran and child in San Diego experiencing homelessness could have access to a home. It also provides thousands of affordable homes for low-wage families, seniors, & people with disabilities. Vote YES on this common sense solution to homelessness! https://yesonasandiego.org/ San Diego Housing Federation

Corsair Flats is one of Eden’s newest properties to welcome residents home. The property is home to seniors and veterans. We couldn't have created 60 new homes without California Proposition 1, Housing Programs and Veterans' Loans Bond, the #lowincomehousingtaxcreditprogram, and our many partners.

Support 72 affordable homes for low-income families in Castro Valley TODAY at 1pm (Ruby Street will likely be discussed at 3pm)! Voice your support at the Alameda County Offices Board of Supervisors meeting. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/98271491041 East Bay for Everyone East Bay Housing Organizations Greenbelt Alliance

Looking for something insightful to listen to this weekend? Check out National Coalition for Homeless Veterans' new podcast: The Road Home. The latest episode discusses Transit Oriented Development and Corsair Flats, Eden's first community in the City of Alameda.

TODAY is the last day to participate in the 2020 census. You can complete it online at my2020census.gov in just 10 minutes! Other options are to call 844-330-2020 or send back your paper form which it must be postmarked by today.

Eden is proud to endorse Yes On Measure Z. We believe that home is where your start is and encourage our Alameda-based supporters to right the wrongs done by Article 26. It is time to bring more affordable homes to this community.

Will you support residents like the Campos family by making a gift to Eden's Tenant Relief Fund? October first was rent day, and for many Eden residents, this was another rent day without a paycheck. Families like Mr. & Ms. Campos who were previously employed as a ride-share driver and house-cleaner have had little to no income over the last seven months to support their family. We didn't anticipate the impact that COVID-19 would have on our residents, but we are continuing to ensure that they keep their homes. Eden's Tenant Relief Fund is set up to help residents through these difficult times.

Election day is fast approaching and St. Mary's Center is hosting a workshop on protecting your vote. See the details below!

"Seeing my friends from the after school program was the highlight of my week!" said one youth resident at Wexford Way in Dublin. Students have been meeting virtually as Eden's after school programs quickly adapted to a new normal, but they're thrilled to finally be able to enjoy socially distanced outdoor games together.

San Diegans, YOU can help solve homelessness and keep San Diego affordable for all. Learn more about Measure A at a virtual Town Hall Thursday at 5:30pm. Register here: http://bit.ly/SDTownHall