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June 6, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 11Oakland,
CA
A group of formerly homeless families joined with officials
from two housing agencies on May 18 to celebrate the dedication of the
new Garden Park Apartments and the HEDCO Community Center in Pleasant
Hill.
The families moved into the permanent affordable housing complex last
December, said Linda Kohlrabi, executive director of the Contra Costa
Interfaith Housing group, a non-profit coalition of 24 churches, synagogues
and other faith-based organizations. CCIH was a co-sponsor of the project,
along with Mercy Housing California, a national not-for-profit housing
organization which has developed over 15,000 housing units in 37 states
since its founding in 1981.
Garden Park provides both permanent affordable housing as well as supportive
services, such as locating childcare, job training and medical care. Residents
pay one-third of their incomes for rent.
The complex requires tenants to have some form of disability – ranging
from chronic physical ailments, to mental health issues, to recovery from
substance abuse. Residents must also be residents of Contra Costa County
and have children. Wohlrabe said that most of the tenants are single females
with kids.
CHIH raised funds for the $5.4 million project through private donations,
government housing funds, plus two large gifts from the cities of Walnut
Creek and Concord.
Mercy Housing, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy, assisted CHIH in purchasing
a 40-year-old apartment complex on Lisa Lane at market rates.
The complex was completely refurbished and a community center was built,
with added financial assistance from the HEDCO Family Foundation.
The center contains three offices, a small
kitchenette and meeting space for social activities, tutoring and on-site
support services.
Contra Costa Interfaith Housing organization began several years ago when
Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church conducted a housing survey.
