Mayor Rusty Bailey, Grove Community Church, Tilden-Coil Constructors, Inc. to Bring Homeless Families “Home for the Holidays” With New Housing Village

Published: 12/12/2018

 

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Mayor Rusty Bailey, Grove Community Church, Tilden-Coil Constructors, Inc. to Bring Homeless Families “Home for the Holidays” With New Housing Village

Four families that have been homeless will find homes at the new Grove Village on church property

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Individuals and families who have struggled with homelessness will be going “Home for the Holidays” as they move into four new, 600-square-foot homes built on The Grove Community Church’s property through a partnership Mayor Rusty Bailey forged between the church, Tilden-Coil Constructors, Inc. and the City of Riverside.

The homes will provide transitional housing for homeless individuals and families who are trying to work their way out of homelessness. Program participants will have access to a variety of services designed to aid in their journey to self-sufficiency, including job training and placement, child care, life skills and financial planning. The Grove Village is believed to be the first project of its kind in the region, and is the next step in reducing the incidence of homelessness in Riverside.

“We know that you cannot solve homelessness without housing, and this project is an amazing example of how a local government and a faith community can work together to provide that housing,” Mayor Rusty Bailey said. “We are immensely grateful to Pastor Tom Lance and The Grove family for showing us how faith communities can be integral in making progress on one the biggest issues of our time.”

The Grove Village will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20, at the village, 19900 Grove Community Drive in the Orangecrest neighborhood in southeast Riverside. Media are invited to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony, to tour the housing units, and to conduct interviews with key partners.  Live broadcasts are encouraged at this festive occasion and earlier access can be granted for early morning broadcasts, upon request.

“This project is the culmination of a long, and sometimes challenging, process designed to lift up our neighbors without homes,” Pastor Tom Lance said. “Our church members, our volunteers and our donors all have come together to show how a united effort, built on faith and powered by love, can create positive change for people who are struggling to improve their lives.”

The Grove Village succeeded because of a number of factors: donated land, time, talent, services and funding from hundreds of stakeholders and multiple local companies. Mayor Bailey established the vision for the project and galvanized support from stakeholders, both within City Hall and in the business and faith communities. Pastor Lance and The Grove provided the land, mobilized supporters and provided financial support.   

Other community leaders who played key roles included Brian Jaramillo, President of Tilden-Coil Constructors, Inc, which provided in-kind construction management services; Damien O’Farrell, CEO of Path of Life Ministries, which will provide long-term support services to program participants of the Grove Village; and Dr. Manzoor R. Massey, District Governor, Rotary International District 5330, who gathered significant financial support from Rotary for the project. Over 50 additional businesses provided in-kind support, all of which will be highlighted at the event. 

The Riverside City Council agreed in June to use Measure Z funds to pay as much as $120,000 in fees to facilitate construction of the cottages. At that same meeting, The Grove accepted a $40,000 check from Rotary International District 5330.

The project calls for homeless and/or low-income individuals to utilize the village housing until they can stabilize their lives, then move into permanent housing elsewhere. The project, on 0.28 acres formerly used for volleyball courts, is designed to create a template that can be replicated by other faith communities and non-profit organizations in providing housing across Riverside.

The project reflects the City’s commitment to the “Housing First” approach to reducing homelessness, which includes providing homeless people with a place to live, on-site counseling and other support services for people trying to become self-sufficient.

“Riverside is a caring and compassionate community, and this project is a great testament to that,” said Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Conder, who represents the City Council ward where the project is located. “This project shows how much good can be accomplished when government, faith leaders and the community work together. We hope this project becomes a shining beacon for other communities to follow as we continue to explore innovative ways of reaching out and helping our homeless community.”

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