Wins Award of Excellence from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
Fresno, CA – This week, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) announced Fresno Housing as a 2020 Awards of Excellence winner for Renaissance at Parc Grove development. The Awards of Excellence highlight how agencies, like Fresno Housing, are making a difference in their communities.
Renaissance at Parc Grove is an affordable housing community in Fresno that serves veterans who were previously experiencing homelessness. The project was the first of its kind in the Central Valley and one of the first construction developments to use veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention program funds. The site offers veterans no-charge services, health and wellness, and has on-site case managers. Renaissance at Parc Grove is directly across the street from the only veteran’s hospital in the Central Valley, and offers a well-designed stable living environment for approximately 40 veterans.
“It is commonly known that we are in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, but also significant is the lack of quality affordable housing options for veterans experiencing homelessness. As the child of a veteran myself, the values of service are so deeply embedded in who I am today, that I am especially honored that Fresno Housing has been recognized for serving our veterans at the Renaissance at Parc Grove,” said Preston Prince, Fresno Housing CEO. “The most meaningful role our agency has played is advocating for the veteran homeless community and working with the community and public officials to get the development built.”
Fresno Housing acted as the developer, grant writer, and property manager for the development, but the success is a result of collaborative effort between several organizations, such as the VA Central California Health Care System and WestCare California. According to Shawn Jenkins, WestCare California Deputy COO, “Parc Grove is an example of agencies bringing their strengths together to provide quality housing and behavioral health services to a deserving veteran population, and we are proud to be a partner on this development.”
A regional jury selected Fresno Housing from a pool of hundreds of applicants, all notable programs that include programming that improves its residents' lives, as well as cost savings, enhanced productivity, improved client services, and better service coordination. Annual winners of the Awards of Excellence represent the very best work being done by housing and community development agencies nationwide. In June 2020, NAHRO also recognized Fresno Housing with annual Awards of Merit for Renaissance at Parc Grove, Magnolia Commons @ James Magill Plaza, Paseo 55 developments, and the Summer Technology Camp program.
Fresno Housing City Board Chair Adrian Jones added, “As the proud daughter, granddaughter, former wife, sister and niece to veterans who have served our country, the Renaissance at Parc Grove represents so much more to me than providing housing opportunities for our veterans. It serves as a symbol of life-changing differences each of us can make in our community by paying it forward. I continue to be a proud part of this work, and would like to congratulate the dedicated Fresno Housing team and its partners for this well-deserved recognition.”
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