Seven Oak Park families have become homeowners through a partnership between the City of Sacramento, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, and contributions from volunteers and donors. The families celebrated their new homes last Saturday, coinciding with the completion of the 10-home Oak Park Community Revitalization Development. Sacramento City Express reports that in June 2024, the first three homes were dedicated to their new occupants.
Supported by the Aggie Square Community Benefit Partnership, this achievement is part of the City's larger mission to bolster housing options. As Leslie Fritzsche, the City's Economic Investment Manager, shared with community members gathered for the event, "This initiative is a clear reflection of the City’s dedication to improving housing opportunities and fostering an environment where Oak Park families can prosper in their own neighborhoods." Leah Miller, president & CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, shared this sentiment, affirming that "each home we build is a testament to the resilience of the families we serve, the generosity of our community, and the life-changing impact of equity building homeownership for generations to come," in a statement obtained by Sacramento City Express.
These residents, chosen from a pool of applicants in priority zip codes, represent the future that UC Davis Aggie Square aims to foster, with their development closely linked to the growth of the innovation campus being built alongside them. One future homeowner, Wendy, articulated her journey precisely, from overcoming her foster care upbringing to becoming a determined single mother, "A Habitat home would not just provide my children and me with a safe and stable space, but also the opportunity to build a future we can be proud of," she told Sacramento City Express.
Beyond providing homes, these families engraved their commitment with over 500 hours of sweat equity and secured 30-year, 0% interest-equivalent mortgages. In parallel, as part of the broader Stockton Boulevard area revitalization strategy, the City of Sacramento and UC Davis have earmarked $10 million to uplift the surrounding communities with various support strategies, serving over 630 individuals since inception. According to Sacramento City Express, these strategies have been crucial for many, as evidenced by the 24 low-income people prepared by CLTRE Keeper to become first-time homeowners, complimenting other support programs like emergency rent assistance and home repairs.
For more insights into this collaborative success and its impact on the community around the Stockton Boulevard corridor, interested readers can find additional details on the City's website.
