The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and Habitat for Humanity Riverside held a public ceremony today to break ground on 26 new homes for low-income veteran families.

Breaking ground on a 26-home project in Jarupa Valley. From left, are: Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chair Chuck Washington, Jarupa Valley Mayor Verne Lauritzen, Congressman Mark Takano, Habitat for Humanity Riverside Executive Director Kathy Michalak, Senator Richard Roth, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, CalVet Undersecretary Russell Atterberry and Habitat for Humanity Riverside Board President Nick Adcock.

The CalVetREN (Residential Enriched Neighborhood) program offers permanent affordable home ownership and family enrichment services, while ensuring the veterans home loan payments don’t exceed 35% of their monthly income. Each CalVetREN development includes wraparound services such as financial literacy, trauma-informed care, and proven positive outcomes. The homes themselves will be built by Habitat for Humanity Riverside and the Economic Development Agency of Riverside County, with strong support from the City of Jurupa Valley.

“Adding 26 new homes for our veterans and their families is an exciting step to reward those who have served in our nation’s uniform,” said CalVet Undersecretary Russell Atterberry in a statement. “Because our veterans pitch in and help throughout the project, this becomes a personally rewarding experience for them. Through our CalVetREN communities, we continue to help our heroes achieve the American dream of home ownership.”

This new community will be built on five acres at the end of Amarillo Street in the Glen Avon area, and consist of 26 single family homes including a common community space in the center. These EnergySTAR rated homes will be a mix of three and four bedroom floor plans.

“Habitat Riverside is excited to be able to develop this veteran community in partnership with CalVet and we can hardly wait to begin working with the veteran families, community volunteers and our partner companies to build these homes,” said Habitat for Humanity Riverside Executive Director Kathy Michalak.

Among those present for the groundbreaking ceremony were U.S. Congressman Mark Takano, CalVet Undersecretary Russell Atterberry, CalVet Deputy Secretary for the Farm and Home Loans Division Theresa Gunn, California Senator Richard Roth, California  Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chairman Chuck Washington and City of Jurupa Valley Mayor Verne Lauritzen.

Like the three previous CalVet REN veteran communities built in Sylmar, Santa Clarita and beginning in Palmdale, the Jurupa Valley CalVetREN development will focus on the unique needs of veterans in the local community.

Qualified low-income veterans can apply to buy one of the completed homes in the Jurupa Valley community by visiting www.habitatriverside.org/veterans or by calling (951)787-6754 x 131.

Habitat for Humanity Riverside is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity Riverside was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. Learn more at www.habitatriverside.org.

California Department of Veterans Affairs – CalVet’s mission is to serve all of California’s veterans and their families. With nearly 1.8 million veterans living in the state, CalVet strives to ensure that our veterans of every era and their families get the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve as a result of selfless and honorable military service. CalVetREN communities are one way we assist veterans and their families achieve their highest quality of life including home ownership. For the last 95 years, the CalVet Farm and Home Loan program has helped veterans find homes in California. To learn more on how CalVet assists veterans, visit www.CalVet.ca.gov.