This week, 28 veterans packed up their belongings and carried them into their new homes at the Renaissance at Parc Grove in Fresno.

This supportive housing project, which broke ground a little over a year ago, is a safe destination for veterans experiencing homelessness in the San Joaquin Valley.  The 40-unit development of one- and two-bedroom apartments for veterans with disabilities, or those experiencing homelessness, celebrated its grand opening last month and welcomed its first group of residents this past Tuesday.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Parc Grove community provides veteran-specific supportive services such as mental and physical health care, substance abuse treatment, case management, assistance in applying for veterans benefits, employment services, and more. It’s also conveniently located adjacent to Fresno’s extensive Veterans Affairs Medical Center, making continued care for these veterans easily accessible.

“In 2016, Renaissance at Parc Grove was chosen as one of the most promising developments in the state,” CalVet Secretary Dr. Vito Imbasciani said. “Its proximity to the VA hospital providing crucial services and support to its residents is almost unmatched.”

The joint project was made possible thanks to significant contributions from the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention (VHHP) program and planning from the Fresno Housing Authority, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, West Care California and Wells Fargo. The VHHP program, a voter-approved (2014 Proposition 41) veteran affordable housing financing collaboration administered by CalVet, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and the California Housing Finance Agency, contributed nearly $3 million into the construction of the complex.

“VHHP projects like Parc Grove are vital to California, ensuring that vulnerable members of our veteran community receive not only a place to call home, but also the services and support they need to stabilize their lives,” Imbasciani added.  “With the help of our partners, many veterans experiencing homelessness in Fresno can now thrive.”

Since 2014, the VHHP program has funded 55 housing communities similar to Renaissance at Parc Grove throughout California. The program recently began its fourth round of funding and expects to launch another batch of similar projects by the end of 2018.

“We’re going strong and expect to get some fantastic applications this round,” VHHP Program Manager Sean Johnson said. “We’re about halfway through our Prop 41 allocation and we are truly getting the most out of it. The VHHP funds are leveraging a variety of other state, local, and private funds to maximize opportunities to build communities like Renaissance at Parc Grove around the state.”